Inflammatory Abnormalities in Muscle After Stroke: Effects of Exercise

NCT ID: NCT00387712

Last Updated: 2017-09-14

Study Results

Results available

Outcome measurements, participant flow, baseline characteristics, and adverse events have been published for this study.

View full results

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

99 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2006-10-31

Study Completion Date

2014-08-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The purpose of this study is to first define whether abnormalities of skeletal muscle are related to the presence of inflammation and to poor motor performance and whether this can be modified by exercise interventions.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Biological changes in hemiparetic skeletal muscle may further propagate the disability. The investigators report gross muscular atrophy and major shift to fast myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform distribution in hemiparetic thigh that are related to reduced fitness and slow walking speed. The investigators also find elevated inflammatory mediators, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and nuclear factor kappa beta (NFkB) in the paretic thigh muscle. No prior studies have systematically examined the profile of hemiparetic muscle contractile proteins and their relationship to function and fitness after stroke. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms underlying hemiparetic skeletal muscle atrophy and contractile protein abnormalities are unknown.

The investigators have investigated treadmill aerobic exercise (T-AEX), as a task-oriented training model. This exercise model can reverse the alterations in MHC profile in hemiparetic leg muscles after stroke. This T-AEX program also improves fitness (VO2) levels, leg strength, and ambulatory performance in chronic stroke. Moreover, post hoc analyses our randomized treadmill exercise program show that specific features of the exercise prescription likely influence the nature of exercise-mediated adaptations.

Hypothesis: The investigators propose a randomized clinical study to investigate the hypothesis that in chronic stroke patients a 6 month velocity-based progressive T-AEX program is superior to duration-based progressive T-AEX for improving hemiparetic (HP) leg skeletal muscle contractile protein expression and reducing inflammatory markers to improve muscle function, fitness, and ambulation.

Specific Aims: 1) Determine whether skeletal muscle MHC isoform expression is altered and inflammatory mediators, TNF and markers of NFkB activation, present in the hemiparetic vastus lateralis muscle, compared the non-paretic leg and matched non-stroke control leg muscles, and related to muscle function, fitness, and gait performance. 2) Determine whether 6 months progressive T-AEX programs can attenuate this abnormal MHC profile and inflammatory mediators to improve muscle structure and function.

Methods: At baseline, bilateral vastus lateralis (VL) biopsies are obtained from chronically disabled, stroke participants with hemiparetic gait to examine the HP and non-P thigh skeletal muscles for alterations in MHC isoforms, key muscle contractile protein, and evidence for inflammation (TNFa) and NFkB activation. Participants are randomized to 6 months of progressive velocity-based or duration-based T-AEX training. Repeat VL muscle biopsies are obtained in the HP limb only after exercise interventions to assess whether 6-month exercise rehabilitation can restore MHC profile and attenuate activation of inflammatory pathways. Expression of the specific MHC isoforms, TNF, and NFKB marker expression (mRNA and protein) are investigated in these muscle tissues by real-time real time (RT)- polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western Blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. The investigators will explore relationships between T-AEX mediated changes in MHC expression and inflammatory activation in skeletal muscle after stroke to improve muscle strength, muscle performance, fitness and activity levels, activities of daily living (ADL) performance, and gait deficit severity.

Anticipated Results and Relevance: The cross-sectional baseline data will provide the first systematic study of a substantial cohort of stroke patients to define the relationship between altered structural and contractile protein expression to both muscle physiology and clinical measures of muscle performance, metabolic fitness, and rehabilitation mobility outcomes. HP VL muscle will be directly compared to the non-paretic (NP) limb muscle within-subjects and to non-stroke reference controls, in order to better understand the scope of skeletal muscle inflammatory and metabolic abnormalities in the stroke population. The intervention results will allow us to determine the specific requirements of treadmill training that are optimal and crucial to produce the exercise-mediated adaptations in hemiparetic skeletal muscle that lead to improved rehabilitation outcomes to reduce the disability of chronic stroke.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Stroke Inflammation

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Velocity based treadmill training

6 month of progressive treadmill walking with treadmill speed gradually progressed to meet the training heart rate goals for moderate intensity aerobic exercise, when hemiparetic gait velocity can no longer be safely progressed, incline is added to achieve the heart rate training goals.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Velocity based treadmill training

Intervention Type OTHER

6 month of progressive treadmill walking with a safety harness and hand rail support to prevent falls. Treadmill speed is gradually progressed to meet the training heart rate goals for moderate aerobic exercise, when hemiparetic gait velocity can no longer be progressed, incline is added to achieve heart rate training goals. Progression is also based on participant's tolerance, abilities and safety.

Duration based treadmill training

6 month of progressive treadmill walking with duration is gradually progressed to meet the endurance goals for low aerobic intensity exercise, gait velocity and incline do not progress.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Duration based treadmill training

Intervention Type OTHER

6 month of progressive treadmill walking with a safety harness and hand rail support to prevent falls. Treadmill duration is gradually progressed to meet the endurance goals for low aerobic intensity exercise, gait velocity and incline do not progress. Progression is based on participant's tolerance, abilities and safety.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Velocity based treadmill training

6 month of progressive treadmill walking with a safety harness and hand rail support to prevent falls. Treadmill speed is gradually progressed to meet the training heart rate goals for moderate aerobic exercise, when hemiparetic gait velocity can no longer be progressed, incline is added to achieve heart rate training goals. Progression is also based on participant's tolerance, abilities and safety.

Intervention Type OTHER

Duration based treadmill training

6 month of progressive treadmill walking with a safety harness and hand rail support to prevent falls. Treadmill duration is gradually progressed to meet the endurance goals for low aerobic intensity exercise, gait velocity and incline do not progress. Progression is based on participant's tolerance, abilities and safety.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Chronic stroke (\>6 months after initial stroke)
* Age 40-80
* Stable neurologic deficits
* Able to walk with an assistive device
* Language skills to understand the training program safely

Exclusion Criteria

* No anticoagulation or medical conditions that preclude exercise.
* No dementias or depression
Minimum Eligible Age

40 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

VA Office of Research and Development

FED

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Charlene Hafer-Macko, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Ivey FM, Hafer-Macko CE, Macko RF. Exercise training for cardiometabolic adaptation after stroke. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2008 Jan-Feb;28(1):2-11. doi: 10.1097/01.HCR.0000311501.57022.a8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18277823 (View on PubMed)

Ivey FM, Hafer-Macko CE, Macko RF. Task-oriented treadmill exercise training in chronic hemiparetic stroke. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2008;45(2):249-59. doi: 10.1682/jrrd.2007.02.0035.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18566943 (View on PubMed)

Prior SJ, McKenzie MJ, Joseph LJ, Ivey FM, Macko RF, Hafer-Macko CE, Ryan AS. Reduced skeletal muscle capillarization and glucose intolerance. Microcirculation. 2009 Apr;16(3):203-12. doi: 10.1080/10739680802502423. Epub 2009 Feb 16.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19225985 (View on PubMed)

McKenzie MJ, Yu S, Macko RF, McLenithan JC, Hafer-Macko CE. Human genome comparison of paretic and nonparetic vastus lateralis muscle in patients with hemiparetic stroke. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2008;45(2):273-81. doi: 10.1682/jrrd.2007.02.0036.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18566945 (View on PubMed)

Ivey FM, Ryan AS, Hafer-Macko CE, Macko RF. Improved cerebral vasomotor reactivity after exercise training in hemiparetic stroke survivors. Stroke. 2011 Jul;42(7):1994-2000. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.110.607879. Epub 2011 Jun 2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21636819 (View on PubMed)

Ryan AS, Ivey FM, Prior S, Li G, Hafer-Macko C. Skeletal muscle hypertrophy and muscle myostatin reduction after resistive training in stroke survivors. Stroke. 2011 Feb;42(2):416-20. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.110.602441. Epub 2010 Dec 16.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21164115 (View on PubMed)

Hafer-Macko CE, Ryan AS, Ivey FM, Macko RF. Skeletal muscle changes after hemiparetic stroke and potential beneficial effects of exercise intervention strategies. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2008;45(2):261-72. doi: 10.1682/jrrd.2007.02.0040.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 18566944 (View on PubMed)

Ryan AS, Buscemi A, Forrester L, Hafer-Macko CE, Ivey FM. Atrophy and intramuscular fat in specific muscles of the thigh: associated weakness and hyperinsulinemia in stroke survivors. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2011 Nov-Dec;25(9):865-72. doi: 10.1177/1545968311408920. Epub 2011 Jul 6.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 21734070 (View on PubMed)

Ivey FM, Stookey AD, Hafer-Macko CE, Ryan AS, Macko RF. Higher Treadmill Training Intensity to Address Functional Aerobic Impairment after Stroke. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2015 Nov;24(11):2539-46. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2015.07.002. Epub 2015 Aug 21.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 26303787 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

Access external resources that provide additional context or updates about the study.

http://www.acsm.org

Click here for more information about this study: Inflammatory Abnormalities in Muscle After Stroke: Effects of Exercise

http://www.stroke.org

Click here for more information about this study: Inflammatory Abnormalities in Muscle After Stroke: Effects of Exercise

http://www.strokeassociation.org

Click here for more information about this study: Inflammatory Abnormalities in Muscle After Stroke: Effects of Exercise

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

B3834-R

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.