Remote Limb Ischemic Conditioning as a Neurorecovery Agent for Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) has profound consequences across a person?s lifespan and poses significant therapeutic challenges. Rehabilitation is a primary option to improve function; however, current rehabilitation approaches are limited in their effectiveness to improve function. Thus, there is an urgent need to find an effective agent that, when paired with rehabilitation training, will facilitate neurobiological processes of recovery and improve function. The primary aim of proposed research is to assess the feasibility of such novel intervention, remote limb ischemic conditioning (RLIC) paired with training in children with CP. The second exploratory aim is to assess the effects of RLIC plus muscle power and balance training on quadriceps power, early neural adaptations to power training, balance, and gait. Total 10 children with CP, age range 6-13 years will be randomized to receive either RLIC plus power and balance training (n=5) or sham plus power and balance training (n=5). Children will receive RLIC or sham conditioning over 4 weeks (14 sessions) using a blood pressure cuff on the thigh. Sessions 3-14 will pair conditioning with power training using standard guidelines, and balance training using dynamic stability platform. Significance of this research is that it may establish novel intervention to improve nerurorehabilitation outcomes of children with CP.

Scholars @ ECU