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Remote ischemic preconditioning training improves sleep quality in post-stroke insomnia patients

A 10-day remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) intervention significantly improved sleep quality (PSQI) and stroke-specific quality of life (SS-QOL) in post-stroke insomnia patients at 1 week and 3 months post-intervention, with no significant effect on anxiety (GAD-7). The intervention was well tolerated with no significant difference in adverse events compared to routine nursing.

Last updated: Jul 31, 2026•1 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score48/100
Human RCT★★☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. The safety and validity of remote ischemic preconditioning training on sleep disorder after stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

observational

Duan B, Wang F, Li Y, Liu Z, Liu W · Sleep medicine (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 10 days intervention, 3 months follow-up
Intervention: Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) training twice daily for 10 days
Outcome: Sleep quality (PSQI), stroke-specific quality of life (SS-QOL), anxiety (GAD-7)
Effect Size: PSQI: Cohen's d = -0.51 at T2, -0.76 at T3; SS-QOL: d = 0.49 at T2, 0.55 at T3; GAD-7: d = -0.22 at T2, -0.31 at T3
Population: 86 stroke patients with post-stroke insomnia

Result:

PubMed: 42520760DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2026.109164

Mechanism Graph

RIPC induces transient limb ischemia and reperfusion
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Activates endogenous protective pathways
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May improve cerebral blood flow and reduce neuroinflammation
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Result: Improved sleep quality and quality of life

Limitations

  • ⚠Small sample size (n=86)
  • ⚠Short follow-up period (3 months)
  • ⚠No significant effect on anxiety, limiting generalizability

Frequently Asked Questions

What is remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC)?▼

RIPC involves brief cycles of ischemia and reperfusion applied to a limb, typically using a blood pressure cuff, to induce protective effects in distant organs like the brain.

How was sleep quality measured in this study?▼

Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a validated self-report questionnaire.

Did RIPC reduce anxiety in stroke patients?▼

No, the reduction in GAD-7 scores was not statistically significant at either 1 week or 3 months post-intervention.

Was the RIPC intervention safe?▼

Yes, there was no statistically significant difference in adverse events between the RIPC and control groups (p=0.494), indicating good tolerability.

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References

  1. 1.Duan B, Wang F, Li Y, Liu Z, Liu W. "The safety and validity of remote ischemic preconditioning training on sleep disorder after stroke: a randomized controlled trial.." Sleep medicine, 2026. PMID: 42520760 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2026.109164
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.