Trial of Aerobic Exercise Training in Stroke Survivors

Stroke Clinical Trial

Official title:

Aging, Inflammation and Exercise in Chronic Stroke

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00891514
• Other study ID #: AG0118
• Secondary ID: R01AG030075
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 1, 2009
• Est. completion date: July 31, 2018

Study information

• Verified date: October 2018
• Source: Baltimore VA Medical Center
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of treadmill training on inflammation in the skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, insulin action in the skeletal muscle, and whole body glucose metabolism in stroke survivors. The fundamental hypothesis of this study is that key inflammatory markers in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle are abnormal, skeletal muscle insulin signaling is impaired, and systemic insulin sensitivity is reduced in hemiparetic stroke patients and that these factors are modifiable and improved by exercise training in stroke patients.

Description:

Many stroke survivors are sedentary and are at risk for the development of diabetes. We will study the interactions of adipose tissue and the paretic and non-paretic muscle inflammation, insulin signaling and action in hemiparetic stroke patients and the ability to employ exercise training to reverse these abnormalities in this ethnically diverse population. Participants aged 40-75 years with chronic stroke will be randomized to treadmill training versus stretch control group using a one-two-one blocked randomization on race (black vs. white), sex (male vs. female), and glucose tolerance status (normal vs. impaired and type 2 diabetes).

Stroke occurs in over 780,000 persons each year in the U.S., the vast majority reported in persons older than 55 years of age. Following stroke, patients remain at continued high risk for recurrent stroke. Inflammatory processes lead to cardiovascular events/stroke and contribute to disease risk progression by impacting insulin resistance and the development of type 2 diabetes. Interventions that reduce inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity have important clinical implications, especially in the stroke population.

Task-oriented treadmill training is utilized to improve cardiovascular fitness and functional mobility in hemiparetic stroke patients. Additionally, preliminary data indicates that progressive treadmill training in this population improves glucose tolerance.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 98
• Est. completion date: July 31, 2018
• Est. primary completion date: July 31, 2018
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 40 Years to 75 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke greater than or equal to 6 months prior with stable residual hemiparetic gait deficits

• Already completed all conventional inpatient and outpatient physical therapy

• Adequate language and neurocognitive function to safely participate in exercise testing and training

• Men or women ages 40-75 years

• Body mass index between 20 to 50 kg/m2

• Non-smoker, or history of no smoking for more than 5 years

• Under the care of a primary care medical provider

Exclusion Criteria:

• Already performing aerobic exercise 3 times a week

• Increased alcohol consumption defined as greater than 2 oz. liquor or 8 oz. of wine or 24 oz. of beer per day

• Cardiac history of:

1. unstable angina

2. recent (less than 3 months prior to study entry) myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure

3. hemodynamically significant valvular dysfunction

• Medical History:

1. recent hospitalization (less than 3 months prior to study entry) for severe medical disease

2. peripheral arterial disease with vascular claudication

3. orthopedic or chronic pain condition restricting exercise

4. pulmonary or renal failure

5. active cancer

6. untreated poorly controlled hypertension measured on at least 2 occasions (greater than 160/100)

7. type I diabetes mellitus, insulin therapy, untreated and/or poorly controlled diabetes with fasting blood glucose of greater than 160

8. smoking within the last 5 years

9. allergy to lidocaine

10. medications: heparin, warfarin, lovenox, beta-blockers, oral steroids

• Neurological history of:

1. dementia with Mini-Mental Status Score less than 23 (less than 17 if education level at or below 8th grade), and diagnostic confirmation by neurologist or psychiatrist

2. severe receptive or global aphasia which confounds testing and training, operationally defined as unable to follow 2 point commands

3. hemiparetic gait from a prior stroke preceding the index stroke defining eligibility (more than one stroke)

4. neurologic disorder restricting exercise, such as Parkinsons Syndrome or myopathy

5. untreated major depression

• Adipose tissue and muscle biopsy exclusion criteria:

1. anti-coagulation therapy with heparin, warfarin, or lovenox (anti-platelet therapy is permitted)

2. bleeding disorder

3. allergy to lidocaine

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Insulin Resistance
• Sedentary Lifestyle
• Stroke

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Aerobic Exercise
Treadmill training- begins at 15 minutes total duration at 40-50% maximal heart rate reserve 3 times per week, increasing to 60-70% maximal heart rate reserve for 45-60 minutes for 6 months
• Stretching
Stretching, balance exercises, and components of conventional physical therapy-- begins at 15 minutes and progresses to 45 minutes for 6 months

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Maryland, VAMC	Baltimore	Maryland

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Baltimore VA Medical Center	National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (3)

Hafer-Macko CE, Yu S, Ryan AS, Ivey FM, Macko RF. Elevated tumor necrosis factor-alpha in skeletal muscle after stroke. Stroke. 2005 Sep;36(9):2021-3. Epub 2005 Aug 18. — View Citation

Ivey FM, Ryan AS, Hafer-Macko CE, Goldberg AP, Macko RF. Treadmill aerobic training improves glucose tolerance and indices of insulin sensitivity in disabled stroke survivors: a preliminary report. Stroke. 2007 Oct;38(10):2752-8. Epub 2007 Aug 16. — View Citation

Ryan AS, Dobrovolny CL, Smith GV, Silver KH, Macko RF. Hemiparetic muscle atrophy and increased intramuscular fat in stroke patients. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2002 Dec;83(12):1703-7. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	VO2peak	maximal oxygen consumption during a treadmill test	Baseline and 6 months
Secondary	Whole body insulin sensitivity	glucose utilization during a glucose clamp	Baseline and 6 months
Secondary	Cytokines	circulating TNF alpha levels	Baseline and 6 months
Secondary	Body fat	whole body percent fat	Baseline and 6 months
Secondary	Muscle mass	whole body lean mass	Baseline and 6 months