Individuals surviving Chronic Ischemic Stroke have lingering walking deficits long after their infarct. The main goal of this study is to compare two high intensity treadmill walking programs to see which improves walking more. The main question we aim to answer is: How does blood flow restricted high-intensity treadmill training impact walking function? Participants will be randomly separated into two groups. One group will perform the high intensity treadmill training with blood flow restriction on their Stroke affected leg, while the second group performs high intensity treadmill training only. Every week participants will be asked to walk on the treadmill for a total of 75 minutes during 2x 1-hour sessions. On visit 1, participants will undergo strength, balance, and walking testing. They will then be treated 2x weekly for 4 weeks (visit 2-9) and be re-tested to track progress on visit 10. Participants will again be treated 2x weekly for 4 more weeks (visit 11-18) and be tested to see the end results on visit 19. Researchers will then compare both groups to see if blood flow restriction training changes walking function, strength, and balance.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
20
Blood Flow Restricted High Intensity Treadmill Training at 70% limb occlusion (on hemiparetic limb only) 2x weekly for 16 Sessions totaling minimum of 75 minutes weekly.
High Intensity Treadmill Training 2x weekly for 16 Sessions totaling minimum of 75minutes weekly.
MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States
6 Minute Walk Test
The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) assesses distance walked over 6 minutes as a sub-maximal test of aerobic capacity/endurance.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4 (up to one week), Week 8( up to one week)
10 Meter Walk Test
The 10MWT assesses walking speed in meters per second over a short duration.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4 (up to one week), Week 8( up to one week)
5 Time Sit to Stand
The Five Times Sit to Stand Test measures one aspect of transfer skill. The test provides a method to quantify functional lower extremity strength and/or identify movement strategies a patient uses to complete transitional movements.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4 (up to one week), Week 8( up to one week)
Functional Gait Assessment
The FGA is used to assess postural stability during walking and assesses an individual's ability to perform multiple motor tasks while walking. The tool is a modification of the 8-item Dynamic Gait Index, developed to improve reliability and reduce ceiling effect. Each item is scored on an ordinal scale from 0 to 3, with 0 = severe impairment, 1 = moderate impairment, 2 = mild impairment, 3 = normal ambulation. The highest score = 30 indicating no impairment in postural stability during walking.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4 (up to one week), Week 8( up to one week)
BERG Balance Scale
The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is a 14-item objective measure that assesses static balance and fall risk in adults. Item-level scores range from 0-4 and are determined by ability to perform the assessed activity Item scores are then summed with lower scores indicating higher fall risk. The maximum score = 56.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4 (up to one week), Week 8( up to one week)
Activities Balance Confidence Scale-16
The ABC Scale is a self-report measure of balance confidence in performing various activities without losing balance or experiencing a sense of unsteadiness. Items are rated on a rating scale that ranges from 0 - 100. Score of zero represents no confidence, a score of 100 represents complete confidence. Overall score is calculated by adding item scores and then dividing by the total number of items.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 4 (up to one week), Week 8( up to one week)
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