RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT07488793

Remote Ischemic Conditioning for PwSCI

Remote Ischemic Conditioning Intervention to Enhance the Cardiometabolic Health of Persons With SCI

Sponsor

Washington University School of Medicine

Enrollment

24 participants

Start Date

Feb 23, 2026

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries

Summary

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.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 Years

Inclusion Criteria8

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 Criteria17

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

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALRIC high-dose standard blood pressure cuff

The RIC high-dose using a standard blood pressure cuff group will participate in 6-weeks of self or support-person applied/assisted remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) intervention within their home. 5 days a week the participants will complete 1 session of 4 cycles of inflating/deflating a standard blood pressure cuff to 20 mmHg higher than their measured systolic blood pressure on an arm. The blood pressure cuff will be inflated and held for 5 minutes, then deflated (released) for 5 minutes and this will be repeated a total of 4 cycles. This process will take about 35 minutes to complete each day. The participants will also complete a daily log of their RIC sessions. The overall goal is to improve cardiometabolic health of persons with spinal cord injury.

BEHAVIORALRIC high-dose automated blood flow restriction cuff

The RIC high-dose automated blood flow restriction cuff group will participate in 6-weeks of self or support-person applied/assisted remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) intervention within their home. 5 days a week the participants will complete 1 session of 4 cycles of inflation/deflation of an automated blood flow restriction cuff to 20 mmHg higher than their measured systolic blood pressure on an arm. The restriction cuff will inflate and hold for 5 minutes, then deflate (release) for 5 minutes and this will be repeated a total of 4 cycles. This process will take about 35 minutes to complete each day. The participants will also complete a daily log of their RIC sessions. The overall goal is to improve the cardiometabolic health of persons with spinal cord injury.

BEHAVIORALRIC low-dose standard blood pressure cuff

The RIC low-dose standard blood pressure cuff group will participate in 6-weeks of self or support-person applied/assisted remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) intervention within their home. 5 days a week the participants will complete 1 session of 4 cycles of inflating/deflating a blood pressure cuff to 10 mmHg below their measured diastolic blood pressure on an arm. The blood pressure cuff will be inflated and held for 5 minutes, then deflated (released) for 5 minutes and this will be repeated a total of 4 cycles. This process will take about 35 minutes to complete each day. The participants will also complete a daily log of their RIC sessions.