Blood pressure cuff trick may boost hand function in paralysis

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Able-bodied participants 1. Age between 18 and 75 years; 2. No known central or peripheral neurological disease or injury. SCI participants Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age between 18 and 75 years; 2. Chronic (more than 12 months since injury) motor-incomplete SCI between neurological levels C2-C8 3. Detectable F-wave responses of the left or right abductor pollicis brevis (APB) to median nerve stimulation; 4. Detectable motor evoked potentials in left or right APB muscles to transcranial magnetic stimulation; 5. Able to perform thumb-middle finger opposition pinch task with detectable APB EMG muscle activity. ALS participants 1. Age between 21 and 75 years; 2. Diagnosis of probable or definite ALS. 3. Incomplete weakness of left or right wrist or hand muscles: score of 2, 3, or 4 (out of 5) on manual muscle testing of finger extension, finger flexion, or finger abduction. 4. Detectable motor evoked potentials in left or right APB muscles to transcranial magnetic stimulation; 5. Able to perform thumb-middle finger opposition pinch task with detectable APB electromyography (EMG) muscle activity. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Multiple spinal cord lesions; 2. History of seizures; 3. Use of medications that significantly lower seizure threshold, such as amphetamines and bupropion; 4. History of implanted brain/spine/nerve stimulators, aneurysm clips, or cardiac pacemaker/defibrillator; 5. Any extremity soft tissue, orthopedic, or vascular condition or injury that may contraindicate remote limb ischemic conditioning (RLIC) (uncontrolled hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, hematological disease, severe hepatic or renal dysfunction); 6. Any other contraindication to undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (except for claustrophobia); 7. Clinically significant infection of any kind (urinary tract, pulmonary, skin or other) 8. Significant coronary artery or cardiac conduction disease; 9. Open skin lesions over the neck, shoulders, or arms; 10. Pregnancy 11. Unsuitable for study participation as determined by study physician. In addition, a medical record review will be conducted to identify any other medical concerns that might increase the risks associated with participation.