NCT03512028

Remote Limb Ischemic Conditioning to Enhance Learning and Muscle Strength in Healthy Young Adults

Effects of Remote Limb Ischemic Conditioning to Enhance Performance, Cognitive-motor Learning and Muscle Strength in Healthy Young Adults

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 34 (actual)
• Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The purpose of this research study is to determine if remote limb ischemic conditioning (RLIC) can enhance learning of a motor (balance) and an ecologically valid, complex cognitive-motor (driving) task, and increase skeletal muscle strength in neurologically-intact young adults.

Detailed description

Ischemic conditioning is an endogenous phenomenon in which exposing a target organ or tissue to one or more brief episodes of ischemia results in protection of that organ against subsequent ischemia. The effects of ischemic conditioning are not confined within an organ but can be can be transferred from one organ to another, a technique called remote ischemic conditioning. A clinically feasible method for this is remote limb ischemic conditioning (RLIC), where episodes of ischemia and perfusion are induced with a blood pressure cuff placed on the arm. The overall goal of this line of work is to use ischemic conditioning to enhance learning and outcomes in persons with neurologic injuries. Two previous studies have shown that remote limb ischemic conditioning (RLIC) can enhance learning a motor task in healthy young adults. The current study extends that work to determine if RLIC enhances muscle strength training and a complex cognitive-motor task (simulated driving). This Phase I study will yield the necessary information to design and execute subsequent trials in neurologic patient populations.

Conditions

• Healthy, Young Adults

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	RLIC	See descriptions under arm/group descriptions. RLIC is delivered for 8 visits. Visits 1-3 occur on consecutive work days and visits 4-8 occur on alternating week days.
BEHAVIORAL	Sham conditioning	See descriptions under arm/group descriptions. Sham conditioning is delivered for 8 visits. Visits 1-3 occur on consecutive work days and visits 4-8 occur on alternating week days.
BEHAVIORAL	Muscle strength training	All participants undergo muscle strength training of the wrist extensor muscles on one side. Strength training follows standard American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for frequency, intensity, progression etc. Strength training is provided at visits 3-8
BEHAVIORAL	Driving training	All participants undergo training of a complex cognitive-motor task using a driving simulator. Participants learn to 'drive' on a virtual course, maximizing speed and minimizing errors. Participants perform the driving task once each day for visits 3-8.
BEHAVIORAL	Balance training	All participants undergo training on a balance board, learning to hold the board level with equal weight on each leg. Participants perform the balance task for 15, 30-second trials per day at visits 3-8.

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-11-08
• Primary completion: 2018-12-31
• Completion: 2019-01-31
• First posted: 2018-04-30
• Last updated: 2020-02-05
• Results posted: 2020-02-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States