Blood flow modulation to improve motor and neurophysiological outcomes in individuals with stroke: a scoping review

Abstract

Ischemic Conditioning (IC) is a procedure involving brief periods of occlusion followed by reperfusion in stationary limbs. Blood Flow Restriction with Exercise (BFR-E) is a technique comprising blood flow restriction during aerobic or resistance exercise. Both IC and BFR-E are Blood Flow Modulation (BFM) strategies that have shown promise across various health domains and are clinically relevant for stroke rehabilitation. Despite their potential benefits, our knowledge on the application and efficacy of either intervention in stroke is limited. This scoping review aims to synthesize the existing literature on the impact of IC and BFR-E on motor and neurophysiological outcomes in individuals post-stroke. Evidence from five studies displayed enhancements in paretic leg strength, gait speed, and paretic leg fatiguability after IC. Additionally, BFR-E led to improvements in clinical performance, gait parameters, and serum lactate levels. While trends toward motor function improvement were observed post-intervention, statistically significant differences were limited. Neurophysiological changes showed inconclusive results. Our review suggests that IC and BFR-E are promising clinical approaches in stroke, however high-quality studies focusing on neurophysiological mechanisms are required to establish the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of both in stroke. Recommendations regarding future directions and clinical utility are provided.

Keywords: Blood flow modulation; Blood flow restriction exercise; Ischemic conditioning; Motor function; Neurophysiology; Stroke rehabilitation.