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Michigan Split-belt Treadmill Training Program to Improve Long-Term Knee Biomechanics After ACL Reconstruction

Mi-SPA: Michigan Split-belt Adaptation Paradigm to Improve Knee Loading After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (Aim 3)

Who can join

Ages 14 to 45 · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* aged 14-45 years
* 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:

* inability to provide written informed consent
* 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

About the study

The goal of this study is to gather pilot data to help inform a future clinical trial. As such, the investigators will employ a randomized clinical trial design, but data will only be collected on 9 total subjects. Nine subjects will be randomized to 2 split-belt intervention groups (one group where early stance loading is trained and the other where midstance loading is trained) and a placebo group.

The goal of this study is to explore the adaptations in knee loading from a 6-week split-belt training intervention.

The investigators' main question for this aim is:

1. Does knee loading, measured by the sagittal plane knee moment, change to a greater extent in the split-belt treadmill training groups compared to the placebo group? 2. Are there differences in training-related knee loading changes between individuals trained in the early stance vs. midstance loading split-belt training?

What is being tested

• Placebo Split-Belt Training (behavioral)
• Split-Belt Training (behavioral)

Sponsor: University of Michigan · Participants: 9 · Started: Aug 13, 2025

Contact the study team

• Alexa Johnson, PhD · Phone: 734-615-1297
• Riann M Palmieri-Smith, PhD, ATC · Phone: 734-615-3154

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06529692

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.