Michigan Split-belt Treadmill Training Program to Improve Acute Knee Biomechanics After ACL Reconstruction
NCT ID: NCT06529679
Last Updated: 2025-11-06
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.
RECRUITING
NA
30 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2024-10-29
2025-12-31
Brief Summary
Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.
Our main question for this aim are:
1. Are training-mediated aftereffects in the knee joint moment greater for tied-belt walking or split-belt walking?
2. Are training-mediated aftereffects in the knee joint moment different between subjects who train early stance knee loading versus subjects who train mid-stance knee loading?
Detailed Description
Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.
Split-belt treadmill training is a gait retraining approach where treadmill belt speeds are decoupled (i.e., one belt is set to move at a faster or slower speed than the other belt) during walking. Split-belt training is based on well-established motor learning principles, such as error-based learning and variability of practice which can lead to locomotor adaptations. In healthy individuals, split-belt treadmill walking significantly increases knee moment impulses in the limb on the slow belt than on the fast belt during the braking and propulsive phases of gait. Split-belt treadmill training has also shown promise in individuals with neurological deficits, resulting in significant improvements in gait biomechanics after training.
The aim of this project is to determine short-term adaptations (aftereffects) in knee loading after a 20-minute split-belt treadmill training session in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Individuals \~6-10 months after ACL reconstruction will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups and each group will complete a split-belt and tied-belt session. One group will train the early stance knee moment with split-belt walking, while the other group will train the mid-stance knee moment with split-belt walking. Both groups will also complete a tied-belt session. Bilateral knee loading will be quantified using peak knee moments before training (10 min), during training (20 min), and after training (10 min). The investigators hypothesize that the training-mediated aftereffects (i.e., loading after training) will be significantly higher in the split-belt condition than in the tied-belt control condition. The investigators also hypothesize that early stance split-belt training will lead to training-mediated aftereffects for the early stance moment only, while mid-stance training will only result in aftereffects for the mid-stance knee moment.
Conditions
See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.
Keywords
Explore important study keywords that can help with search, categorization, and topic discovery.
Study Design
Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.
RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
NONE
Study Groups
Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.
Early Stance Training
This study arm will complete both a 20-minute split-belt \& tied-belt session. During the split-belt session, the ACL limb will walk at a faster speed (150-170% of 1.1 m/s) than the non-ACL limb (1.1 m/s). During the tied-belt session both limbs will walk at the same speed which will be set to match the faster speed of the ACL leg from the split-belt training day.
Split-belt Training
Walking on a split-belt treadmill in which the speed of one belt will be different (move faster or slower) than the speed of the other belt.
Tied-Belt Training
Walking on a split-belt treadmill in which the speed of both belts is the same.
Mid-Stance Training
This study arm will complete both a 20-minute split-belt \& tied-belt session. During the split-belt session, the ACL limb will walk at a slower speed (30-50% of 1.1 m/s) than the non-ACL limb (1.1 m/s). During the tied-belt session both limbs will walk at the same speed which will be set to match the slower speed of the ACL leg from the split-belt training day.
Split-belt Training
Walking on a split-belt treadmill in which the speed of one belt will be different (move faster or slower) than the speed of the other belt.
Tied-Belt Training
Walking on a split-belt treadmill in which the speed of both belts is the same.
Interventions
Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.
Split-belt Training
Walking on a split-belt treadmill in which the speed of one belt will be different (move faster or slower) than the speed of the other belt.
Tied-Belt Training
Walking on a split-belt treadmill in which the speed of both belts is the same.
Eligibility Criteria
Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.
Inclusion Criteria
* suffered an acute, complete ACL rupture as confirmed by MRI and physical exam
* have undergone ACL reconstruction w autograft within the past 10 months
* willingness to participate in testing and follow-up as outlined in the protocol
* English-speaking
Exclusion Criteria
* female subjects who are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant (self-reported)
* previous ACL injury
* previous surgery to either knee
* bony fracture accompanying ACL injury
* patients who experienced a knee dislocation
* patients who had their ACL reconstructed with an allograft
* patients who underwent a multi-ligamentous and/or staged ACL reconstruction
14 Years
45 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
NIH
University of Michigan
OTHER
Responsible Party
Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.
Riann Palmieri-Smith
Professor School of Kinesiology
Principal Investigators
Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.
Riann M Palmieri-Smith, PhD, ATC
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
University of Michigan
Chandramouli Krishnan, PT, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
University of Michigan
Locations
Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Countries
Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.
Central Contacts
Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.
Facility Contacts
Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.
Riann Palmieri-Smith, PhD
Role: primary
Other Identifiers
Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.
HUM00221406_Aim2
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id