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Remote Ischemic Conditioning for Spinal Cord Injuries

This study is looking at a treatment called Remote Ischemic Conditioning (RIC) for people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). RIC involves briefly restricting blood flow to an arm or leg using a blood pressure cuff. Researchers want to see if RIC, done at home, can improve heart and metabolic health. They are comparing three different ways of doing RIC: high-dose using a standard blood pressure cuff, high-dose using an automated blood flow restriction cuff, and low-dose using a standard blood pressure cuff. The main goal is to see if these methods are practical for people with SCI to do at home and to gather information on how they affect heart health. You can join if you are 18 or older, have an SCI, live at home, and are not currently very active.

Study design
This is an interventional study with 24 participants. It compares three different ways of applying Remote Ischemic Conditioning (RIC).
What's involved
Participants will apply Remote Ischemic Conditioning (RIC) at home 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Measurements of arm artery size and arterial stiffness will be taken at the beginning and up to 2 weeks after the intervention.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed up to 2 weeks after the 6-week intervention period.

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NCT07488793

Remote Ischemic Conditioning for PwSCI

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalBasic science
Washington University School of Medicine
~24 participants
Updated 2026-03-23 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:RIC high-dose standard blood pressure cuffRIC high-dose automated blood flow restriction cuffRIC low-dose standard blood pressure cuff

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Brachial artery diameter change (cm)
Measured over Baseline and up to 2 weeks post intervention
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries

Explore related trials

Spinal Cord Injury

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Missouri1

Study leadership

  • Kerri A Morgan, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Washington University School of Medicine - Program in Occupational Therapy

Who to contact

Kerri A Morgan, PhD
[email protected]
314-286-1659
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

18 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

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

What this trial measures

  • Brachial artery diameter change (cm)Baseline and up to 2 weeks post intervention

    Participants will undergo a Brachial Artery Reactivity Test (BART) via upper arm doppler ultrasound. The test will measure flow-mediated dilation and endothelium independent dilation of the brachial artery using a high-resolution transducer on the Vivid E95, E9, Vivid IQ (portable) or Vivid I (portable) systems. Brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation correlates with measures of coronary artery endothelial function and can predict future adverse coronary events. Results will be reported as brachial artery diameter change between baseline and 30 seconds into test, unit of measure is cm.

  • Arterial stiffness - Pulse wave velocity (PWV)Baseline and up to 2 weeks post intervention

    This test is a non-invasive cardiovascular assessment that measures arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness will be obtained by measuring carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity using the SphygmoCor XCEL system.