Vascular Diseases Clinical Trials

Stroke survivors have compromised vascular function which may contribute to secondary stroke risk, cardiovascular disease, and may limit their exercise tolerance. No studies have examined how femoral blood flow responds to both passive leg movement, a measure of microvascular function, as well as active leg contractions, a measure of the hyperemic response to exercise. Leg muscles with a reduced blood flow response to movement could be associated with decreased neuromuscular function, such as leg strength and fatigue. Preliminary data showing a single bout of ischemic conditioning may improve vascular function and muscle activation in healthy adults and individuals post-stroke. Therefore, the investigators want to examine if ischemic conditioning will also improve the blood flow response to passive leg movements as well as during single leg active contractions. Read Less

The objective of this study is to assess the effect Spinal Cord Stimulators have toward improving vascular changes of diabetes mellitus in patients eligible for SCS placement based on their condition of painful diabetic neuropathy; we will evaluate improving their disability and quality of life, improving micro-circulatory changes induced by Diabetes Mellitus (DM), improving macro-circulatory changes induced by DM and improving arterial stiffness of the vessels of the lower extremity. Read Less

After the participant meets all inclusion and exclusion criteria, they will be randomized equally to either the Resistance Training group (RT) or Aerobic Training group (AT). Both groups will participate in an 8 week initial control period, followed by 8 weeks of supervised exercise training, followed by 8 weeks of deconditioning. All participants will undergo the same assessments and procedures one time prior to the initial 8 week control period, and at each of the three periods. Assessments include: blood draws; arterial stiffness testing; ultrasounds of the brachial artery to measure flow-mediated dilation (FMD); gluteal adipose tissue biopsies; exercise testing to determine VO2 max; body composition analysis via DEXA scans; ambulatory blood pressure measurement; diet analysis via food journals; medical history questionnaires; urine analysis for pregnancy; and activity monitoring via accelerometer. Total participation will be 24-26 weeks. Read Less