ENhancing Exercise with LIGHT to Improve Functioning in PAD

Launched by NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · Apr 30, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The ENLIGHTEN PAD Trial is studying whether a special light treatment can help improve walking ability in people with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). PAD is a condition that affects blood flow to the legs, making it difficult for individuals to walk. In this trial, participants will receive daily light treatment on their legs just before doing walking exercises at home. The goal is to see if this light therapy can help them walk further after four months compared to those who receive a fake light treatment.

To join the study, participants need to be 50 years or older and diagnosed with PAD, which is usually confirmed through specific tests. However, there are some health conditions that would exclude someone from participating, such as severe leg problems or other serious medical issues. If eligible, participants will engage in light treatment and walking exercises while being monitored for their progress. This trial is currently recruiting participants, and it offers a chance to explore a new way to enhance walking ability for those affected by PAD.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• First, all participants will be age 50 and older. Second, all participants will have PAD. PAD will be defined as:
• • 1. An ABI \<= 0.90 at baseline.
• • 2. Vascular lab evidence of PAD (such as a toe brachial pressure \< 0.70 or an ankle brachial index less than or equal to 0.90), or angiographic evidence of PAD defined as at least 70% stenosis of an artery supplying the lower extremities.
• • 3. An ABI of \>0.90 and \<= 1.00 who experience a 20% or greater drop in ABI in either leg after the heel-rise test.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Above- or below-knee amputation
• • 2. Critical limb ischemia defined as an ABI \<0.30 or \<0.40 with symptoms of rest pain
• • 3. Wheelchair confinement or requiring a walker to ambulate
• • 4. Walking is limited by a symptom other than PAD
• • 5. Current foot ulcer on bottom of foot
• • 6. Failure to successfully complete the study run-in
• • 7. Planned major surgery, coronary or leg revascularization during the next four months
• • 8. Major surgery, coronary or leg revascularization or major cardiovascular event in the previous three months
• • 9. Major medical illness including lung disease requiring oxygen, Parkinson's disease, a life-threatening illness with life expectancy less than six months, or cancer requiring treatment in the previous two years. \[NOTE: potential participants may still qualify if they have had treatment for an early stage cancer in the past two years and the prognosis is excellent, unless the cancer is located in the lower extremities. Participants who require oxygen only at night may still qualify.\]
• • 10. Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) score \< 23
• • 11. Non-English speaking
• • 12. Participation in or completion of a clinical trial in the previous three months. \[NOTE: after completing a stem cell or gene therapy intervention, participants will become eligible after the final study follow-up visit of the stem cell or gene therapy study so long as at least six months have passed since the final intervention administration. After completing a supplement or drug therapy (other than stem cell or gene therapy), participants will be eligible after the final study follow-up visit as long as at least three months have passed since the final intervention of the trial.\]
• • 13. Visual impairment that limits walking ability.
• • 14. Six-minute walk distance of \<400 feet or \>1700 feet.
• • 15. Participation in a supervised treadmill exercise program or a cardiac rehabilitation program in previous three months or planning to begin a supervised treadmill exercise program or a cardiac rehabilitation program in the next five months.
• • 16. Unwilling to avoid red light therapy outside of study participation.
• • 17. Baseline blood pressure \<100/45.
• • 18. In addition to the above criteria, investigator discretion will be used to determine if the trial is unsafe or not a good fit for the potential participant.