Gentle strength training with blood flow restriction for people with advanced MS
Official title: Low-Load Resistance Training with Blood Flow Restriction in People with Multiple Sclerosis and Advanced Disability: A Randomized Control Trial
Funded at VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System · NIH-11317022 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will see if gentle, low-intensity strength exercises using a cuff to restrict blood flow help people with advanced multiple sclerosis gain muscle and move better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | November 1, 2022 |
| Project end | October 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2RX004242-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11317022 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with multiple sclerosis who have advanced disability (need assistance to walk or use a wheelchair) and can attend supervised sessions at the VA in Aurora, Colorado are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with mild MS who already tolerate high-intensity resistance training, those with contraindications to blood-flow restriction (for example active blood clots or certain vascular diseases), or those unable to travel to the study site may not receive benefit from participating.
What this research studies
You would join a randomized trial where people with advanced MS are assigned to low-load resistance training with blood flow restriction or a comparison group. Training sessions are supervised at the VA site and use light weights plus a cuff that temporarily limits blood flow to the working muscles. Researchers will measure changes in muscle strength, walking and mobility, and monitor safety and tolerance over the study period. The team has early data suggesting this approach is safe and doable in people with advanced MS.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help people with advanced MS build strength and improve mobility using lower-intensity exercise that may be easier to tolerate.
How similar studies have gone: Blood flow restriction training has increased muscle strength in other musculoskeletal conditions and early work suggests it can match high-intensity training, but randomized trials in people with advanced MS are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Manago, Mark M — VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Manago, Mark M
Related research
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Low-Load BFR Training to Help People with Advanced MS Improve Strength
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.