Blood Flow Regulation and Neuromuscular Function Post-Stroke
Medical College of Wisconsin
Summary
The muscles of stroke survivors can fatigue faster compared to muscles in people who have not had a stroke, which can limit how long a person with stroke can perform tasks such as walking. This study will examine how blood flow is regulated to the exercising leg muscle post-stroke, because if the muscle does not receive enough blood flow it will become fatigued. Finally, the investigators will use a safe and simple non-invasive intervention called ischemic conditioning, which has known effects to improve blood flow to exercising muscle and determine the effects on muscle fatigue.
Description
This study will examine peripheral blood flow regulation in the exercising muscle of stroke survivors and determine relationships between hyperemic blood flow and the functional sympatholysis magnitude with measures of muscle fatigue. In Aim 3 the investigators will conduct a parallel group, randomized, controlled, double-blinded clinical trial that will examine the effects of ischemic conditioning on the functional sympatholysis response, muscle fatigue resistance and metrics of muscle fatigability. In total the investigators intend to recruit 60 chronic stroke survivors and 20 age- and sex-m…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–85 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Be between 18-85 years of age * Able to give informed consent * ≥6 months post diagnosis of unilateral cortical or sub-cortical stroke * English speaking Exclusion Criteria: * History of blood clots in the extremities or any condition in which compression of the thigh or transient ischemia is contraindicated (e.g. wounds in the leg) * Chronic pain syndrome * Low back or hip pain that interferes with lower extremity motor testing * History of head trauma * Comorbid neurological disorder * Peripheral vascular disease * Myocardial infarction in the previous year * Inabili…
Interventions
- ProcedureIschemic Conditioning
A cuff will be inflated to a pressure of 225 mmHg.
Locations (2)
- Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
- Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, Wisconsin