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RICFAST 2 (Remote Ischaemic Conditioning for Fatigue After Stroke) is a study dedicated to helping post-stroke patients who suffer from fatigue.
Stroke can be a debilitating condition, and a hidden aspect of it is the fatigue that comes after. Up to half of people suffer from fatigue after stroke, and are often provided little support for this. Our goal is to help.
Remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) is a promising new technique to help combat fatigue. This has the potential to be a safe, cheap, and effective way to make the body more energy-efficient, thus reducing fatigue. By participating in this study, you can contribute towards this crucial research.
Remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) makes use of the idea that your body is incredibly resilient and adaptable.Â
"Ischaemia" refers to the concept of blood flow being reduced to an area of your body. Prolonged periods of ischaemia can be harmful to the body, as this deprives cells of vital nutrients and metabolites obtained from the blood. However, the body is accustomed to working and adapting under pressure - so during brief, transient periods of ischaemia, the blood-deprived region of the body undergoes certain physiological changes to adapt in order to be more efficient with the limited nutrients it has access to.
RIC therefore utilises this natural physiological process. By inducing short periods of ischaemia using a blood pressure cuff, while also allowing for breaks to enable the body to recover and prevent any actual harm from occurring to cells, we can "condition" these tissues to become more adaptive, flexible, and energy-efficient. We believe that, over time, this could lead to a reduction in post-stroke fatigue.
Want a more
in-depth explanation? Watch this video!