Remote Limb Ischemic Conditioning to Enhance Learning and Muscle Strength in Healthy Young Adults
Condition: Healthy, Young Adults
MeSH terms: Ischemia
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 1

Summary: 
      The purpose of this research study is to determine if remote limb ischemic conditioning
      (RLIC) can enhance learning of a motor (balance) and an ecologically valid, complex
      cognitive-motor (driving) task, and increase skeletal muscle strength in
      neurologically-intact young adults.
    

Detailed description: 
      Ischemic conditioning is an endogenous phenomenon in which exposing a target organ or tissue
      to one or more brief episodes of ischemia results in protection of that organ against
      subsequent ischemia. The effects of ischemic conditioning are not confined within an organ
      but can be can be transferred from one organ to another, a technique called remote ischemic
      conditioning. A clinically feasible method for this is remote limb ischemic conditioning
      (RLIC), where episodes of ischemia and perfusion are induced with a blood pressure cuff
      placed on the arm.

      The overall goal of this line of work is to use ischemic conditioning to enhance learning and
      outcomes in persons with neurologic injuries. Two previous studies have shown that remote
      limb ischemic conditioning (RLIC) can enhance learning a motor task in healthy young adults.
      The current study extends that work to determine if RLIC enhances muscle strength training
      and a complex cognitive-motor task (simulated driving). This Phase I study will yield the
      necessary information to design and execute subsequent trials in neurologic patient
      populations.
    

Intervention name(s): RLIC; Sham conditioning; Muscle strength training; Driving training; Balance training
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): See descriptions under arm/group descriptions. RLIC is delivered for 8 visits. Visits 1-3 occur on consecutive work days and visits 4-8 occur on alternating week days.; See descriptions under arm/group descriptions. Sham conditioning is delivered for 8 visits. Visits 1-3 occur on consecutive work days and visits 4-8 occur on alternating week days.; All participants undergo muscle strength training of the wrist extensor muscles on one side. Strength training follows standard American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for frequency, intensity, progression etc. Strength training is provided at visits 3-8; All participants undergo training of a complex cognitive-motor task using a driving simulator. Participants learn to 'drive' on a virtual course, maximizing speed and minimizing errors. Participants perform the driving task once each day for visits 3-8.; All participants undergo training on a balance board, learning to hold the board level with equal weight on each leg. Participants perform the balance task for 15, 30-second trials per day at visits 3-8.
Other intervention name(s): remote limb ischemic conditioning
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: Single blinded, randomized controlled trial
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: ischemic conditioning, motor learning, strength, cognition