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NCT07910734Completed

Supplemental Blood Flow Restriction Training to Improve the Upper Extremity in Chronic Stroke

Supplemental Blood Flow Restriction Training to Improve Training of the Upper Extremity in Chronic Stroke: A Pilot Study

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 2 Nov 2026

Brief summary (registry, in English)

The leading cause of long-term disability worldwide is neurological conditions, with stroke specifically affecting nearly 800,000 individuals in the United States in 2019. These populations currently live with reduced functional ability due to reduced strength, motor control, and muscular endurance, thereby impairing their ability to perform tasks throughout the day. One of the common functional abilities lost is upper extremity (UE) function, which leads to decreased independence with activities of daily living (ADL), increased reliance on caregivers, and increased financial burden due to increased healthcare costs. Blood flow restriction therapy (BFR) is an innovative therapeutic intervention that may serve as a supplement to traditional interventions. Blood flow restriction therapy has shown promise in improving muscular hypertrophy, muscular strength, and functional outcome measures in those with and without neurologic conditions.

Status (registry)
Completed
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
16 (actual)
First submitted
18 Jun 2026
Start date
1 Jan 2022
Primary completion date
20 Dec 2024
Lead sponsor
Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia
Diseases
Stroke
NCT number
NCT07910734

What you commit to

  • Study type: Interventional
  • Participants enrolled: 16
  • From 1 Jan 2022 to the primary completion date, 20 Dec 2024
  • 1 site in 1 country
  • Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Prior treatment

  • previous revascularization of the extremity, extremities with dialysis access, acidosis, extremity infection or tumor distal to tourniquet,
  • Currently taking or using medications and supplements known to increase clotting risk \< 1 month prior to participation;

Other illness

  • History of deep venous thrombosis, impaired circulation, or peripheral vascular compromise,
  • increased intracranial pressure, severe hypertension, any traumatic surgery or reconstruction of extremity distal to tourniquet,
  • skin grafts, lengthy immobilization of extremity, surgery or damage to lymph structures associated with paretic extremity, myocardial infarction or cardiac surgery,
  • shortness of breath at rest or active cancer;

Other

  • Bone or joint limitations that restrict paretic arm motion;
  • chest pain
  • Currently experiencing or at risk for a hypercoagulable state
  • Botox injections into the paretic arm within 4 months of participation
  • Positive classification on the Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire Score \> 0 on Wells' criteria for DVT.

Who the study is looking for

  • Diagnosis of (\>1) CVA that occurred \>1 year prior to participation
  • understand instructions of exercise activity
  • Have a moderate motor impairment consistent with the results of the Fugl-Meyer for the upper extremity;
  • Safe for use of BFR tourniquet device (see exclusion criteria);
  • Able to elevate and hold a paretic arm for 2 seconds at 90° shoulder flexion, 160°-180° elbow extension, and neutral forearm supination;
  • \>20° gravity minimized wrist extension while holding a cylindrical object on a tabletop.

Age in the registry: 21 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (1)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.

SiteCityCountrySite status
Greg Thielman
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
PhiladelphiaUnited StatesUnknown status

This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.