Remote Ischemic Conditioning With Exercise (RICE)-Rehabilitative Strategy in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke:...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Early exercise rehabilitation is crucial for stroke recovery but can be challenging in weakened patients.
• Remote Ischemic Conditioning (RIC) offers neuroprotection by inducing endogenous protective mechanisms.
• The combined effect of early RIC and exercise (RICE) on stroke rehabilitation is yet to be determined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a combined early Remote Ischemic Conditioning and exercise (RICE) therapy in acute ischemic stroke patients.
• To assess the impact of RICE therapy on neurological function, infarct volume, and overall prognosis.

Main Methods:

• A single-center, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial involving acute ischemic stroke patients within 24 hours of symptom onset.
• Patients were randomized to either RICE therapy (exercise with RIC) or a control group (exercise with sham RIC).
• Interventions included daily RIC/sham RIC for 14 days, followed by twice-daily exercise for 11 days, with outcomes assessed at various time points.

Main Results:

• The primary outcome is the safety of RICE therapy, measured by adverse events during hospitalization.
• Secondary outcomes include favorable prognosis at 90 days, assessed by Modified Rankin Scale (mRS), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Barthel Index, and walking ability.
• Changes in infarct volume will also be evaluated.

Conclusions:

• This prospective randomized controlled trial will determine the rehabilitative effects of early RICE therapy in acute ischemic stroke.
• The study aims to establish RICE as a potentially beneficial early intervention strategy for stroke recovery.