Low-load resistance training with blood flow restriction for people with advanced multiple sclerosis
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-10988223 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether a special type of light weight training with added support can help veterans with advanced multiple sclerosis get stronger and move better, even if they usually feel too weak or tired for regular exercise.
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 | 5IK2RX004242-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10988223 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with advanced multiple sclerosis who experience significant muscle weakness and require assistance with mobility.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with mild multiple sclerosis or those who do not experience significant mobility issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of low-load resistance training combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) on individuals with advanced multiple sclerosis (MS). The study aims to determine if this approach can improve muscle strength and mobility in patients who typically cannot engage in high-intensity exercise due to severe weakness and fatigue. Participants will undergo a controlled trial to assess the safety and effectiveness of this training method, which has shown promise in other populations. The research is particularly focused on veterans, who often experience more severe symptoms of MS.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance muscle strength and mobility for patients with advanced MS, potentially improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that blood flow restriction combined with low-load resistance training can be effective in improving muscle strength in various populations, suggesting a promising avenue for this research.
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
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Mediterranean-style eating and aging in people with multiple sclerosis
This project looks at whether following a Mediterranean-style diet is linked to slower biological aging and less brain shrinkage in people living with multiple sclerosis.
-
Low-Load BFR Training to Help People with Advanced MS Improve Strength
A randomized trial tests whether low-load resistance training with blood flow restriction can improve muscle strength for people with advanced multiple sclerosis.
-
Home-based activity tracking to predict MS progression and support trials
A study using wearable activity trackers to help predict disability progression in people with progressive multiple sclerosis and make clinical trials more efficient.
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Gentle strength training with blood flow restriction for people with advanced MS
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.
-
Mediterranean diet, biological aging, and multiple sclerosis progression
This project looks at whether a Mediterranean-style diet links to slower biological aging and less brain shrinkage in people living with multiple sclerosis.
-
Protecting against disability in early Multiple Sclerosis
This project explores how diet and body weight might help people with early multiple sclerosis maintain their brain function and reduce disability over time.
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.