Improving Muscle Strength and Function After Lower Limb Amputation
University of Illinois at Chicago
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if ischemic conditioning and neuromuscular electrical stimulation improves muscle strength and walking behavior in those with limb loss. The main questions this trial aims to answer are: Does neuromuscular electrical stimulation improve muscle strength and gait behavior in people who have a leg amputation? Does neuromuscular electrical stimulation boost the effects of ischemic conditioning on muscle strength and gait behavior in people who have a leg amputation? Researchers will compare the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation to ischemic conditioning to see if there are any significant differences between the impacts of each intervention. Also, researchers will use both interventions together to see if the interventions can boost each other's positive impacts on walking and function in people with leg amputation. Participants will: * Do ischemic conditioning OR neuromuscular electrical stimulation OR both interventions at home every other day for 2 weeks * Visit the laboratory before and after completing interventions for the tests * Visit the laboratory one week after the post intervention visit for follow-up tests
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Older than 18 years old * History of unilateral transfemoral or transtibial amputation * Able to ambulate independently without the use of aids (i.e., walking cane) * Able to walk at least 6 minutes continuously without stopping. * Has a safe residuum with no open wounds on either the residual or intact limb * Has a prosthetic limb with materials that are sound and safe to withstand the mobility requirements of the study Exclusion Criteria: * Younger than 18 years old * Inability to give informed consent * Neurological disorder such as multiple sclerosis that affects g…