Athletic PerformanceNCT07641621
Squat Jump Performance and Chiropractic Ankle Manipulation
A study testing Manual Therapy Procedure: Chiropractic Ankle Manipulation in people with Athletic Performance and Neuromuscular Adaptations, run by Northeast College of Health Sciences at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if chiropractic ankle manipulation can improve squat jump performance. It will also learn about the relationship among chiropractic ankle manipulation, ankle range of motion, and squat jump performance. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 35 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Athletic Performance, Neuromuscular Adaptations, Lower Limb
- What is being tested?
- Manual Therapy Procedure: Chiropractic Ankle Manipulation
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Jun 2026to May 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 35 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- age range from 18 to 35 years old; and
- participating in recreational exercise, three times a week for at least 30 minutes. Recreational exercise includes ball sports (e.g. soccer, basketball, volleyball, etc.), racket sports (e.g. tennis, pickle ball, racket ball, etc.), strength/combat sports (e.g. weight lifting, boxing, martial arts, kickboxing, etc.), endurance sports (running, cycling, rock climbing, etc.), snow/ice sports (downhill or cross-county skiing, snow shoeing, hockey, etc.), interval training (e.g., high-intensity interval training), sprint interval training, repeated sprint training etc.) or moderate-intensity aerobic activities (step classes, dance classes, hiking, etc.)
Who cannot join
- professional or amateur ranked athlete;
- participation in water sports (swimming, water aerobics, kayaking, water skiing, etc.) to meet the recreational exercise inclusion criteria
- acute or chronic musculoskeletal injury / condition of the feet, ankles, knees, and/or hips;
- acute or chronic musculoskeletal injury / condition of the spine;
- pregnancy or there is a possibility of pregnancy.
- any diagnosed medical condition; and
- any prescribed medications with the exceptions of birth control, anxiety, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Biomechanics Laboratory at Northeast College of Health Sciences
Seneca Falls, New York, 13148
Jeanmarie R Burke, PhD, jburke@northeastcollege.edu
About this study
Official title: The Effects of Chiropractic Ankle Manipulation on Athletic Performance of College-Aged Recreational Athletes: Randomized Controlled Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if chiropractic ankle manipulation can improve squat jump performance. It will also learn about the relationship among chiropractic ankle manipulation, ankle range of motion, and squat jump performance. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does chiropractic ankle manipulation increase squat jump height?
- Is there a relationship among chiropractic ankle manipulation, ankle range of motion, and squat jump performance?
Read more
Researchers will compare squat jump performance between subjects who receive chiropractic ankle manipulations with control subjects to see if ankle chiropractic manipulation works to improve squat jump performance.
Participants will:
- Visit the research laboratory for one testing session to measure ankle range of motion and squat jump performance, before and after their randomly assigned intervention arm
- Receive either a chiropractic ankle manipulations or rest quietly as the control condition during the testing session.
- Being tested
- Manual Therapy Procedure: Chiropractic Ankle Manipulation
- Keywords
- chiropractic, manipulation, ankle, squat jump, athletic performance
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Manual Therapy Procedure: Chiropractic Ankle ManipulationOther
Also called Lower Extremity Manipulation
The lower extremity manipulation (LEM) procedure is a short lever, high velocity, low-amplitude distractive (caudal) thrust directed at the talocrural joint. The treating chiropractor will deliver the LEM to the right ankle then the left ankle. LEM is an adjustment for long axis distraction of the tibiotalar joint with the goal to improve dorsiflexion of the ankle joint.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Chiropractic Ankle Manipulation | Experimental | LEM - Lower Extremity Manipulation:
Subjects assigned to the LEM Intervention Group will receive a short lever, high velocity, low-amplitude distractive (caudal) thrust directed at the talocrural joint. The treating chiropractor will deliver the LEM to the right ankle then the left ankle. LEM is an adjustment for long axis distraction of the tibiotalar joint with the goal to improve dorsiflexion of the ankle joint. Receives: Other: Manual Therapy Procedure: Chiropractic Ankle Manipulation |
| Control | No intervention | Subjects assigned to the Control Group will rest quietly, supine (face up), on the chiropractic treatment table for five (5) minutes. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Squat Jump Height
Subjects will be instructed to jump upwards from the starting squat position as high as possible. Subjects will perform 3 to 6 jumps with 3 consecutive jump heights being within 5% of each other to ensure maximum jump height is achieved. There will be a one-minute rest between jumps.
- Starting position. Subjects will assume the starting squat position with their hips at 90°, knees at 120°, and ankles at 85° as positioned by the PI. An adjustable plyometric jump box will be used to standardize the starting position. Hands will be resting across their chest with the trunk and head positioned straight ahead.
- Squat Jump: Subjects will be instructed to jump as high as possible and land in a comfortable position. Hands will remain across the chest for the duration of
The Optojump photoelectric cell system (OptoJump) will be used to record jump height. OptoJump demonstrates strong concurrent validity and excellent test-retest reliability for the estimation of vertical jump height
Measured: Baseline on Day 1 to Immediately after Intervention on Day 1
Range of Motion of Ankle Dorsiflexion
Knee-to-wall ankle dorsiflexion test:
- Ankle dorsiflexion ROM (distance from wall - cm) is the maximum distance of the big toe from the wall while maintaining contact between the wall and the knee with the heel on the ground.
- The subject will repeat the Knee-to-wall ankle dorsiflexion test three times at this maximum distance to allow the PI to record three goniometer measurements of ankle dorsiflexion ROM (degrees°).
Measured: Baseline on Day 1 to Immediately after Treatment on Day 1 and at End of Test Session on Day 1
Secondary outcomes (3)
Leg Muscle Power (W/Kg)
Squat Jump Muscle Parameter: The Optojump will calculate an estimate of leg muscle power (W/Kg). The reliability and concurrent validity of OptoJump to measure jump height suggests that the evidence-base biomechanical formula to calculate the estimate of leg muscle power by OptoJump is reliable with face validity.
Measured: Baseline on Day 1 to Immediately after Intervention on Day 1
Contraction Velocity of Leg Muscles (mm/s), Force-Velocity Curve
Squat Jump Muscle Parameter: The Gyko inertial sensor system (Gyko) will measure the velocity of the jump to calculate an estimate of the contraction velocity of leg muscles, force-velocity curve.
The reliability and concurrent validity of Gyko to measure jump height and in-turn estimate muscle function parameters is limited in the literature. The control group in the current study will allow us to address concurrent validity and reliability of Gyko to measure jump height. Jump height measured by Optojump is the gold-standard field base device. Comparison of Gyko to Optojump measurements of jump heights will determine concurrent validity of Gyko to estimate jump height. The use of evidence-base biomechanical formulas to calculate an estimate of contraction velocity of leg muscles during SQJ's depends on recording reliable and valid measurements of jump heights; and in turn, establish the reliability and face validity of Gyko to estimate muscle function parameters.
Measured: Baseline on Day 1 to Immediately after Intervention on Day 1
Rate of Force Development of Leg Muscles (N/s), Slope of the Force - Velocity Curve
Squat Jump Muscle Parameter: The Gyko inertial sensor system (Gyko) will measure the velocity of the jump to calculate an estimate of the rate of force development of leg muscles, slope of the force - velocity curve The reliability and concurrent validity of Gyko to measure jump height and in-turn estimate muscle function parameters is limited in the literature. The control group in the current study will allow us to address concurrent validity and reliability of Gyko to measure jump height. Jump height measured by Optojump is the gold-standard field base device. Comparison of Gyko to Optojump measurements of jump heights will determine concurrent validity of Gyko to estimate jump height. The use of evidence-base biomechanical formulas to calculate an estimate of the rate of force development of leg muscles during SQJ's depends on recording reliable and valid measurements of jump heights; and in turn, establish the reliability and face validity of Gyko to estimate muscle function.
Measured: Baseline on Day 1 to Immediately after Intervention on Day 1
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Jun 2026
- Study startJun 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionMay 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionMay 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Athletic PerformanceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Northeast College of Health Sciences
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jeanmarie R. Burke, PhD, Northeast College of Health Sciences
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07641621
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 26-02
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 31 May 2026
- Last updated
- 16 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effects of Chiropractic Ankle Manipulation on Athletic Performance of College-Aged Recreational Athletes: Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07641621
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 26-02
- Keywords
- chiropractic, manipulation, ankle, squat jump, athletic performance
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Northeast College of Health SciencesUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- May 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 11 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if chiropractic ankle manipulation can improve squat jump performance. It will also learn about the relationship among chiropractic ankle manipulation, ankle range of motion, and squat jump performance. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does chiropractic ankle manipulation increase squat jump height?
- Is there a relationship among chiropractic ankle manipulation, ankle range of motion, and squat jump performance?
Researchers will compare squat jump performance between subjects who receive chiropractic ankle manipulations with control subjects to see if ankle chiropractic manipulation works to improve squat jump performance.
Participants will:
- Visit the research laboratory for one testing session to measure ankle range of motion and squat jump performance, before and after their randomly assigned intervention arm
- Receive either a chiropractic ankle manipulations or rest quietly as the control condition during the testing session.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Chiropractic Ankle Manipulation | Experimental | Other: Manual Therapy Procedure: Chiropractic Ankle ManipulationLEM - Lower Extremity Manipulation: Subjects assigned to the LEM Intervention Group will receive a short lever, high velocity, low-amplitude distractive (caudal) thrust directed at the talocrural joint. The treating chiropractor will deliver the LEM to the right ankle then the left ankle. LEM is an adjustment for long axis distraction of the tibiotalar joint with the goal to improve dorsiflexion of the ankle joint. |
| Control | No intervention | –Subjects assigned to the Control Group will rest quietly, supine (face up), on the chiropractic treatment table for five (5) minutes. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 35 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- age range from 18 to 35 years old; and
- participating in recreational exercise, three times a week for at least 30 minutes. Recreational exercise includes ball sports (e.g. soccer, basketball, volleyball, etc.), racket sports (e.g. tennis, pickle ball, racket ball, etc.), strength/combat sports (e.g. weight lifting, boxing, martial arts, kickboxing, etc.), endurance sports (running, cycling, rock climbing, etc.), snow/ice sports (downhill or cross-county skiing, snow shoeing, hockey, etc.), interval training (e.g., high-intensity interval training), sprint interval training, repeated sprint training etc.) or moderate-intensity aerobic activities (step classes, dance classes, hiking, etc.)
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- professional or amateur ranked athlete;
- participation in water sports (swimming, water aerobics, kayaking, water skiing, etc.) to meet the recreational exercise inclusion criteria
- acute or chronic musculoskeletal injury / condition of the feet, ankles, knees, and/or hips;
- acute or chronic musculoskeletal injury / condition of the spine;
- pregnancy or there is a possibility of pregnancy.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Therapy Procedure: Chiropractic Ankle ManipulationAlso: Lower Extremity ManipulationThe lower extremity manipulation (LEM) procedure is a short lever, high velocity, low-amplitude distractive (caudal) thrust directed at the talocrural joint. The treating chiropractor will deliver the LEM to the right ankle then the left ankle. LEM is an adjustment for long axis distraction of the tibiotalar joint with the goal to improve dorsiflexion of the ankle joint. | Other | Chiropractic Ankle Manipulation |
Primary outcome
Squat Jump Height
Time frame: Baseline on Day 1 to Immediately after Intervention on Day 1
Subjects will be instructed to jump upwards from the starting squat position as high as possible. Subjects will perform 3 to 6 jumps with 3 consecutive jump heights being within 5% of each other to ensure maximum jump height is achieved. There will be a one-minute rest between jumps. * Starting position. Subjects will assume the starting squat position with their hips at 90°, knees at 120°, and ankles at 85° as positioned by the PI. An adjustable plyometric jump box will be used to standardize the starting position. Hands will be resting across their chest with the trunk and head positioned straight ahead. * Squat Jump: Subjects will be instructed to jump as high as possible and land in a comfortable position. Hands will remain across the chest for the duration of The Optojump photoelectric cell system (OptoJump) will be used to record jump height. OptoJump demonstrates strong concurrent validity and excellent test-retest reliability for the estimation of vertical jump height
Range of Motion of Ankle Dorsiflexion
Time frame: Baseline on Day 1 to Immediately after Treatment on Day 1 and at End of Test Session on Day 1
Knee-to-wall ankle dorsiflexion test: * Ankle dorsiflexion ROM (distance from wall - cm) is the maximum distance of the big toe from the wall while maintaining contact between the wall and the knee with the heel on the ground. * The subject will repeat the Knee-to-wall ankle dorsiflexion test three times at this maximum distance to allow the PI to record three goniometer measurements of ankle dorsiflexion ROM (degrees°).
3 secondary outcomes
Leg Muscle Power (W/Kg)
Time frame: Baseline on Day 1 to Immediately after Intervention on Day 1
Contraction Velocity of Leg Muscles (mm/s), Force-Velocity Curve
Time frame: Baseline on Day 1 to Immediately after Intervention on Day 1
Rate of Force Development of Leg Muscles (N/s), Slope of the Force - Velocity Curve
Time frame: Baseline on Day 1 to Immediately after Intervention on Day 1
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Jun 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Manual Therapy Procedure: Chiropractic Ankle Manipulation in people with Athletic Performance and Neuromuscular Adaptations, run by Northeast College of Health Sciences at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Jeanmarie R Burke, PhD (315 568-3869, jburke@northeastcollege.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Squat Jump Height (time frame: Baseline on Day 1 to Immediately after Intervention on Day 1). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Jun 2026.