Ischemic Conditioning to Enhance Function (I-C-FUN) in Children With Cerebral Palsy
- Conditions
- Cerebral Palsy
- Interventions
- Behavioral: RLICBehavioral: Sham ConditioningBehavioral: Muscle Power trainingBehavioral: Balance trainingBehavioral: Treadmill Training
- Registration Number
- NCT04598711
- Lead Sponsor
- East Carolina University
- Brief Summary
The purpose of this research study is to determine if remote limb ischemic conditioning (RLIC) can increase skeletal muscle power, enhance learning of motor (dynamic balance) task, and improve walking performance in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- Detailed Description
Ischemic conditioning is a phenomenon in which an organ exposed to a controlled, short-term, local, sublethal ischemia protects from subsequent ischemia. Remote ischemic conditioning is another more practical approach where transient ischemia and reperfusion applied to a remote organ or tissue, protects other organs or tissues from further episodes of lethal ischemia/reperfusion injury. Remote limb ischemic conditioning (RLIC) is a clinically feasible way of performing remote ischemic conditioning where alternating, brief ischemia and reperfusion is delivered with cyclic inflation and deflation of a blood pressure cuff on the arm or leg.
The overall goal of this research is to use ischemic conditioning to enhance muscle power, motor leaning, and mobility in children with CP. Our previous work demonstrated that when paired with strength training, RLIC improved muscle strength and activation in healthy, young adults and motor learning in healthy older adults. The current study extends that work to determine if RLIC enhances muscle power, dynamic balance, and walking performance in children with CP. This Phase II study will yield the necessary information to design and execute subsequent randomized controlled trials in children with CP as well as other neurological conditions.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 24
- Children diagnosed with unilateral or diplegia cerebral palsy (CP)
- Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I-III
- Children with other developmental disabilities such as autism, developmental coordination disorders, etc.
- Children with cognitive deficits or communication problem
- Children with balance disorders such as vestibular disorders, posterior fossa tumors etc.
- Children with known cardiorespiratory dysfunctions
- Children who are receiving other adjunct therapies such as TMS, tDCS, vagal nerve stimulation
- Presence of lower extremity condition, injury, or surgery which could compromise conditioning and training
- Children with sickle cell disease
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Remote Limb Ischemic Conditioning (RLIC) RLIC RLIC is achieved via blood pressure cuff inflation to at least 20 mmHg above systolic blood pressure to 200 mmHg on the more involved thigh. RLIC involves 5 cycles of 5 minutes blood pressure cuff inflation followed by alternating 5 minutes of cuff deflation and requires 45 minutes. RLIC is performed on visits 1-14. Interventions: * Behavioral: RLIC * Behavioral: Muscle power training * Behavioral: Balance training * Behavioral: Treadmill training Remote Limb Ischemic Conditioning (RLIC) Muscle Power training RLIC is achieved via blood pressure cuff inflation to at least 20 mmHg above systolic blood pressure to 200 mmHg on the more involved thigh. RLIC involves 5 cycles of 5 minutes blood pressure cuff inflation followed by alternating 5 minutes of cuff deflation and requires 45 minutes. RLIC is performed on visits 1-14. Interventions: * Behavioral: RLIC * Behavioral: Muscle power training * Behavioral: Balance training * Behavioral: Treadmill training Remote Limb Ischemic Conditioning (RLIC) Balance training RLIC is achieved via blood pressure cuff inflation to at least 20 mmHg above systolic blood pressure to 200 mmHg on the more involved thigh. RLIC involves 5 cycles of 5 minutes blood pressure cuff inflation followed by alternating 5 minutes of cuff deflation and requires 45 minutes. RLIC is performed on visits 1-14. Interventions: * Behavioral: RLIC * Behavioral: Muscle power training * Behavioral: Balance training * Behavioral: Treadmill training Sham Conditioning Sham Conditioning Sham conditioning is achieved via blood pressure cuff inflation to 25 mmHg on the more involved thigh. Sham involves 5 cycles of 5 minutes blood pressure cuff inflation followed by alternating 5 minutes of cuff deflation and requires 45 minutes. Sham conditioning is performed on visits 1-14. Interventions: * Behavioral: RLIC * Behavioral: Muscle power training * Behavioral: Balance training * Behavioral: Treadmill training Remote Limb Ischemic Conditioning (RLIC) Treadmill Training RLIC is achieved via blood pressure cuff inflation to at least 20 mmHg above systolic blood pressure to 200 mmHg on the more involved thigh. RLIC involves 5 cycles of 5 minutes blood pressure cuff inflation followed by alternating 5 minutes of cuff deflation and requires 45 minutes. RLIC is performed on visits 1-14. Interventions: * Behavioral: RLIC * Behavioral: Muscle power training * Behavioral: Balance training * Behavioral: Treadmill training Sham Conditioning Muscle Power training Sham conditioning is achieved via blood pressure cuff inflation to 25 mmHg on the more involved thigh. Sham involves 5 cycles of 5 minutes blood pressure cuff inflation followed by alternating 5 minutes of cuff deflation and requires 45 minutes. Sham conditioning is performed on visits 1-14. Interventions: * Behavioral: RLIC * Behavioral: Muscle power training * Behavioral: Balance training * Behavioral: Treadmill training Sham Conditioning Balance training Sham conditioning is achieved via blood pressure cuff inflation to 25 mmHg on the more involved thigh. Sham involves 5 cycles of 5 minutes blood pressure cuff inflation followed by alternating 5 minutes of cuff deflation and requires 45 minutes. Sham conditioning is performed on visits 1-14. Interventions: * Behavioral: RLIC * Behavioral: Muscle power training * Behavioral: Balance training * Behavioral: Treadmill training Sham Conditioning Treadmill Training Sham conditioning is achieved via blood pressure cuff inflation to 25 mmHg on the more involved thigh. Sham involves 5 cycles of 5 minutes blood pressure cuff inflation followed by alternating 5 minutes of cuff deflation and requires 45 minutes. Sham conditioning is performed on visits 1-14. Interventions: * Behavioral: RLIC * Behavioral: Muscle power training * Behavioral: Balance training * Behavioral: Treadmill training
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in Peak knee extension power Pre-intervention to 1 month post-intervention follow-up Power is defined as the ability to exert a maximum force in short amount of time (speed) while performing knee extension. Bilateral quadriceps power will be measured using Humac Norm Isokinetic testing device (Computer Sports Medicine Inc, Stoughton, MA).
Change in Balance Score Pre-intervention to 1 month post-intervention follow-up The average amount of time in seconds that a participant maintains the stability platform within ±5° of horizontal position during 15 trials of 30 seconds each. The total score will range between 0-30 seconds. Higher balance score indicates better balance performance.
Change in Walking Speed Pre-intervention to 1 month post-intervention follow-up Self-selected and fast walking speeds will be measured using 10-meter walk test.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Quadriceps Electromyography Pre-intervention to 1 month post-intervention follow-up While performing the isokinetic power testing, the electromyography (EMG) data will be recorded simultaneously. The EMG data will be used to quantify the electrical amplitude of quadriceps muscle.
Gait Analysis Pre-intervention to 1 month post-intervention follow-up Lower extremity walking kinematics and kinetics will be measured using 10-camera motion analysis system (Qualisys Inc., Gothenburg, Sweden). Specific kinematic variables are hip, knee, and ankle joint torques. Kinetic variables are peak hip, knee, and ankle sagittal plane joint moments.
Lower limb activity Pre-intervention to 1 month post-intervention follow-up Lower extremity activity will be measured using accelerometers (Actigraphs) worn on bilateral ankles for 24 hours. Specific accelerometry variable will be number of steps.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
East Carolina University
🇺🇸Greenville, North Carolina, United States