Ischemic Conditioning as an Intervention to Improve Motor Function in Chronic Stroke
Stroke

About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Stroke
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- be between the ages of 18-85
- able to give informed consent
- be ≥ 6 months post diagnosis of unilateral cortical stroke and
- have residual leg paresis.
Exclusion Criteria:
- chronic low back or hip pain
- substance abuse
- head trauma in last 6 months
- neurodegenerative disorder
- any uncontrolled medical condition
- any condition where knee extension contractions are contraindicated
- people who are unable to follow multi step commands.
- people who cannot walk ≥ 10 ft without physical assistance.
- history of major psychiatric disorder
- participant has had a myocardial infarction in the last year
- participant has uncontrolled hypertension
- participant is unable to contract knee muscles
Sites / Locations
- Marquette University
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Sham Comparator
Ischemic Conditioning
Sham
The investigators will perform ischemic conditioning on the paretic leg by inflating a blood pressure cuff to 225 mmHg to occlude blood flow to the leg for 5 minutes. This will be repeated for 5 cycles, with 5 minutes of rest between each cycle. The intervention will be performed for a maximum of 12 times within a 4 week period.
The investigators will perform sham ischemic conditioning on the paretic leg by inflating a blood pressure cuff to only 25 mmHg on the leg for 5 minutes. This will be repeated for 5 cycles, with 5 minutes of rest between each cycle. The intervention will be performed for a maximum of 12 times within a 4 week period.