# Ischemic Conditioning and Improved Motor Function Post Stroke

> **NIH NIH R01** · MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $423,402

## Abstract

Project Summary
After stroke, the nervous system is unable to fully activate the musculature, which leads to cardiovascular
deconditioning. These impairments limit tasks such as walking and contribute to long term disability. The purpose
of this study is to examine if a non-invasive intervention, called ischemic conditioning (IC), can improve gait
speed, neural activation of the paretic leg musculature, and cardiovascular fitness when combined with traditional
treadmill training. Briefly, IC is a non-invasive stimulus which is triggered by using a blood pressure cuff to briefly
occlude blood flow to the tissue of interest (the paretic leg) in 5-minute bouts, done a total of 5 cycles per session,
making the tissue transiently ischemic. In individuals without stroke, the IC stimulus is known to increase the
excitability of motor systems and improve local regulation of blood, but the positive effects of IC on motor tasks
such as walking in individuals with stroke are unknown. We propose to investigate the effects of IC on walking
speed and paretic leg function with three Specific Aims. In Aim 1, we will demonstrate the benefit of combined
IC and treadmill training on walking speed post stroke. We will use a prospective randomized control design
with three groups of individuals with chronic stroke (25 per group) for four weeks (12 total sessions) of training:
IC+Treadmill Training, IC Sham+Treadmill Training, and IC only. Walking speed will be measured at baseline,
after 1 session, 6 sessions, 12 sessions, and 1 month post intervention. We anticipate the largest gains in
walking speed in the stroke IC+Treadmill Training group after 12 sessions. In Aim 2, we will quantify the effects
of IC and treadmill training on improvements in paretic muscle activation and fatigability. Due to enhanced neural
activation of the muscle, we anticipate that IC on the paretic leg will improve strength and neuromuscular
fatigability. Maximal knee extensor torque generation(strength) and ability to sustain a sub-maximal
force(fatigability) will be assessed in all treatment groups described in Aim 1. We expect that the largest gains
in strength and task duration to occur in the stroke IC+Treadmill group after 12 sessions. Finally, in Aim 3, we
will establish that IC+Treadmill Training improves endothelial function and cardiorespiratory fitness. We
hypothesize that IC+Treadmill Training will result in increased flow mediated dilation in the popliteal artery of the
paretic leg and the brachial artery of the non-paretic arm. Along with improvements in muscle activation, we
predict the stroke IC + Treadmill training group will have an increased aerobic capacity as assessed by a graded
exercise test to measure peak oxygen uptake (VO2 Peak). These studies will be the first to quantify the effects
of IC, a non-invasive, easy to administer, cost-effective intervention, on walking speed, motor function and
cardiorespiratory fitness in chronic stroke. The findings from this study h...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9974556
- **Project number:** 5R01HD099340-02
- **Recipient organization:** MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Matthew J Durand
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $423,402
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9974556

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9974556, Ischemic Conditioning and Improved Motor Function Post Stroke (5R01HD099340-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9974556. Licensed CC0.

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