Remote Ischemic Conditioning and Spinal Reflex Modulation

Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) is a clinically feasible method that protects distant organs from severe injury through brief, sub lethal periods of ischemia followed by re-perfusion. Recent studies suggest that RIC, combined with training, improves muscle strength and balance in healthy adults and post-stroke survivors. While the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, RIC's neuroprotective effects - such as promoting angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and modulating glutamate and GABA synthesis - overlap with neuroplasticity processes. Evidence indicates that neuroplasticity from exercise training occurs not only in the cerebral cortex but also within the spinal cord, yet the role of spinal reflex mechanisms underlying the benefits of RIC remains under explored. Therefore, this study aims to investigate effects of RIC on spinal reflex modulation in healthy adults, both independently and combined with balance training.

NCT Number	NCT06860464
Lead Sponsor	East Carolina University
Conditions	Healthy Young Adults
Enrollment	30 participants
Start Date	2025-03-06
Primary Completion	2026-12-01 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-12-01 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-01-16