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Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Muscle Strength and Physical Function for Stroke-Related Sarcopenia

Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University • ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06974461

Registry updated: 2026-08-24

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Description

Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Walking on Muscle Strength and Physical Function in Chronic Stroke Patients with Sarcopenia: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial Primary Objective: To evaluate the effects of BFR walking on muscle strength and physical function in chronic stroke patients with sarcopenia, compared to sham-BFR walking. Secondary Objective: (1) To explore the potential impact of BFR walking on muscle mass and vascular function in chronic stroke patients with sarcopenia. (2) To assess the influence of BFR walking on quality of life in chronic stroke patients with sarcopenia.

Interventions

Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) Walking (Procedure)
Participants in this group will undergo a supervised treadmill walking program with blood flow restriction (BFR) applied using BFR pressure cuffs. The cuffs are applied to the proximal thighs, and the training pressure starts at 50% of the participant's arterial occlusion pressure (AOP), increasing every two weeks up to 200 mmHg. Walking is performed at 60% of the maximum walking speed, 20 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks.
Sham Blood Flow Restriction (Sham-BFR) Walking (Procedure)
Participants in this group will follow the same supervised treadmill walking protocol as the BFR group but with minimal cuff pressure (20 mmHg), which does not restrict blood flow. This simulates the sensation of BFR without physiological impact. The purpose is to serve as a placebo comparator. Walking is performed at 60% of maximum walking speed, 20 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed with chronic stroke (≥6 months post-stroke) * Sarcopenia will be diagnosed using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2025 criteria, defined as the concurrent presence of low muscle strength and low appendicular skeletal muscle mass. Muscle strength will be assessed using handgrip strength measured on the non-paretic side. Low muscle strength will be defined as handgrip strength \<28 kg for men and \<18 kg for women aged ≥65 years, and \<34 kg for men and \<20 kg for women aged 50-64 years. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass will be measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis, and the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index will be calculated as appendicular skeletal muscle mass divided by height squared. Low muscle mass will be defined as an appendicular skeletal muscle mass index \<7.0 kg/m² for men and \<5.7 kg/m² for women aged ≥65 years, and \<7.6 kg/m² for men and \<5.7 kg/m² for women aged 50-64 years. Exclusion Criteria: * Stroke occurred within the past 6 months * Resting systolic blood pressure \> 200 mmHg * Resting diastolic blood pressure \> 100 mmHg * Presence of implanted electronic or metallic devices that interfere with blood flow restriction cuffs * Contraindication to bioelectrical impedance analysis (e.g., pacemaker, ICD)

Conditions

Sarcopenia Chronic Stroke Patients

Locations

Hong Kong Polytechnic University — Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Hong Kong Polytechnic University — Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong

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Official Source

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

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