Overview
The long-term goal of this project is to improve the overall cardiometabolic health of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). This pilot study will test the feasibility and acceptability of remote ischemic conditioning implemented in a home setting by persons with SCI and collect cardiometabolic health outcomes to inform appropriate outcomes for a future larger trial. Researchers will compare, RIC high dose using standard blood pressure cuff to RIC high dose using automated blood flow restriction cuff to RIC low dose using standard blood pressure cuff, to determine cardiometabolic health improvements amongst groups.
Participants will:
Complete an initial 2-day assessment, participate in a 6-week intervention using remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) within their home, complete a 2-day post assessment.
Description
The goal of this clinical trial is to collect preliminary data on examining the effects of remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) on cardiometabolic health outcomes for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).
The main aims are:
To identify barriers, facilitators and reasons for positive determinants for implementation of RIC in a home setting.
To estimate improvements in cardiometabolic health of participants with SCI enrolled in an in-home, high-dose RIC intervention group compared to a low-dose RIC group.
The long-term impact will be implementing evidence-based interventions that are achievable and accessible to persons with SCI for improving cardiovascular and metabolic morbidity and mortality outcomes.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- 18 years of age or older
- Diagnosis of SCI
- Live within the community (not nursing facility)
- Not actively engaged in physical activity for exercise
- Not having the ability to participate in physical activity due to physical capacity or environmental barriers
- Medically stable
- Ability to obtain physician approval to participate in the study
- Willingness to participate in a 2-day initial assessment visit at research testing location, 30 intervention sessions conducted independently by the participant or caregivers, 2-day post intervention assessment visit at research testing location.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Medically unstable
- Have had a heart-related condition within the past year
- Have had a blood clot in the past year
- Have a stage 3 or 4 pressure injury
- Have taken blood thinners in the past year
- Have had surgery in the past year
- Have uncontrolled hypertension
- Have peripheral artery disease
- Have Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in both arms
- Have had nerve or tendon transfers in the arms in the past year
- Have lymphedema in the arms
- Have recent acute illness or injury (within the past 3 months)
- Currently pregnant
- Enrolled in another clinical trial
- Are taking GLP-1 medications
- Unable to provide consent
- Currently engaged in physical activity for exercise
