Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Muscle Strength and Physical Function for Stroke-Related Sarcopenia

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Chronic Stroke Patients; Sarcopenia

Treatments: Procedure: Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Walking; Procedure: Sham Blood Flow Restriction (Sham-BFR) Walking

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06974461

HSEARS20250109003

Details and patient eligibility

About

Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Walking on Muscle Strength and Physical Function in Chronic Stroke Patients with Sarcopenia: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial Primary Objective: To evaluate the effects of BFR walking on muscle strength and physical function in chronic stroke patients with sarcopenia, compared to sham-BFR walking.

Secondary Objective: (1) To explore the potential impact of BFR walking on muscle mass and vascular function in chronic stroke patients with sarcopenia. (2) To assess the influence of BFR walking on quality of life in chronic stroke patients with sarcopenia.

Enrollment: 64 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosed with chronic stroke (≥6 months post-stroke)
• Diagnosed with sarcopenia, based on AWGS 2019 criteria

Exclusion criteria

• Stroke occurred within the past 6 months
• Resting systolic blood pressure > 200 mmHg
• Resting diastolic blood pressure > 100 mmHg
• Presence of implanted electronic or metallic devices that interfere with blood flow restriction cuffs
• Contraindication to bioelectrical impedance analysis (e.g., pacemaker, ICD)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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64 participants in 2 patient groups

BFR Walking Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this group will receive blood flow restriction (BFR) walking training. The pressure cuffs will be applied to the proximal thighs. Walking sessions will be conducted on a treadmill at 60% of the participant's maximum walking speed, 3 times per week for 6 weeks. The cuff pressure will begin at 50% of each participant's arterial occlusion pressure (AOP), determined via Doppler ultrasound, and progressively increased every two weeks to a maximum of 200 mmHg.

Treatment:

Procedure: Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Walking

Sham-BFR Walking Group

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Participants in this group will receive sham blood flow restriction walking training. Pressure cuffs will be applied to the proximal thighs but only inflated to 20 mmHg, which does not restrict blood flow. Walking sessions will be performed under the same treadmill conditions as the BFR group (60% of maximum walking speed, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks).

Treatment:

Procedure: Sham Blood Flow Restriction (Sham-BFR) Walking