Near-Infrared Spectroscopy During Reactive Hyperemia for the Assessment of Lower Limb Vascular Function

Our research is focused on understanding how impairments in vascular function and blood flow contribute to the decline in physical function with age and age-related cardiovascular conditions. We also aim to develop novel therapies and exercise interventions that target vascular function and enhance physical capacity in quality of life in people living with cardiovascular disease. Differences in testing protocols, omission of detailed, repeatable NIRS methods, and a lack of uniformity in the description, presentation, and analysis of NIRS response parameters makes comparisons across individual trials challenging.

This limits the collation of data for meta-analysis and the formulation of clinical assessment recommendations. Compared to plethysmography, NRS has high temporal resolution and directly evaluates changes in microvasculature. Compared to ultrasound, NIRS does not require sophisticated image analysis or intravenous contrast agents.

The relative ease and affordability of NIRS means that users can be trained rapidly, enabling multicenter investigations with minimal inter operator variability. We're focused on improving skeletal muscle microvascular function through interventions like ischemic preconditioning and blood flow restriction exercise training. We're currently testing the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation as a therapy to promote vascular function and to enhance walking capacity in people with peripheral artery disease.