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GaitNCT07776223

Sensor Ankle Brace for Special Operations Rehabilitation

A study testing Sensor-enabled Athletic X Ankle Brace (sXAB) in people with Gait and Balance, run by Indiana University at 1 site in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The primary purpose of this study overall is to validate a modified version of a commercially available ankle brace. Inertial measurement unit sensors will be incorporated into an existing ankle brace ("sXAB") by TayCo Brace, Inc. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 40 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Gait, Balance, Biomechanical Data
What is being tested?
Sensor-enabled Athletic X Ankle Brace (sXAB)
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
40 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
5 May 2026to 31 Dec 2026
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 40 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Healthy adults: ages 18 - 40 years
  • considered "healthy to exercise" as determined by the physical activity readiness questionnaire (PAR-Q)
  • Classified as "moderate" or "high" activity level as defined by the scoring criteria of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ)
  • Comfortably fit into combat boots provided by the laboratory (Men's sizes 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and Women's sizes 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 will be purchased, and so participants with foot lengths of 22.54-29.27.8 cm are expected to fit in the boots provided).

Who cannot join

  • Smoking tobacco on a regular basis
  • Previous lower back or lower limb surgery (including the joints of the pelvis and lower limbs)
  • Musculoskeletal injury sustained within the 12-weeks prior to enrollment . A musculoskeletal injury is defined as musculoskeletal pain causing a reduction or stoppage of normal physical activity for at least 3 days within a 7-day period, and have not returned to their normal physical activity and exercise without pain for at least the last 6-weeks.
  • Pregnant (women only)
  • Current or history of an unresolved musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular, pulmonary/respiratory, metabolic, renal condition, disease, or problem.
  • Torn anterior or posterior cruciate ligament (ACL or PCL).
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Any other disease or problems that may affect movement or the ability to exercise even at a low intensity.
  • Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IDFAI) score of <11.
  • unable to comfortably perform the drop landing condition.
  • Feet are too large or too small to fit comfortably in the combat boots provided.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Allison H Gruber, PhD contact

8128562447

ahgruber@iu.edu

Adriana M Alamilla, MS contact

708-745-8368

admiltko@iu.edu

United States1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Indiana University, School of Public Health - Bloomington

    Bloomington, Indiana, 47405

    Allison H Gruber, PhD, 8128562447, ahgruber@iu.edu

    Adriana M Alamilla, MS, 708-745-8368 ext. Gruber, admiltko@iu.edu

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Sensor Ankle Brace for Special Operations Rehabilitation - Phase 2

The primary purpose of this study overall is to validate a modified version of a commercially available ankle brace. Inertial measurement unit sensors will be incorporated into an existing ankle brace ("sXAB") by TayCo Brace, Inc. In two consecutive studies, gait metrics data collected from the sensor enabled ankle brace will be compared to data collected by the gold-standard equipment that is used in research and clinical settings to determine whether the sXAB performs adequately in terms of measurement or technical feasibility prior to further clinical evaluation. In the Phase 2 protocol, the sXAB will be validated on healthy subjects wearing combat boots performing walking, running, jumping, and stair climbing activities. These movements were selected because they simulate key movements performed during operational activities. All participants experience both conditions: with an ankle brace and without an ankle brace. Comparisons are made within-subject between brace and no-brace conditions. It is hypothesized that the sensor-enabled ankle brace will measure gait metrics with a high degree of accuracy (within 5%) when compared against the gold-standard lab equipment (i.e., motion capture and research-grade inertial measurement units).

Read the detailed description

All human subjects activities are taking place at the Indiana University Bloomington (IUB) campus. Potential participants for the Phase 2 study protocol will be recruited from the community and the IUB campus. Potential participants will either contact the research team to complete the initial screening or respond to the flyer via a QR code that takes them directly to the online version of the screening form. The screening form asks yes/no questions from the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PARQ+) and additional questions about the individuals health history, musculoskeletal injury history, and current physical activity levels. After initial screening to determine eligibility, provisionally eligible participants will come to the laboratory on the IUB campus to complete enrollment and study procedures.

At the first in-person visit, participants will read the informed consent document and, after all questions have been answered, sign the informed consent document if they agree to participate in the study. Next, participants will complete a health history questionnaire which repeats the PARQ+ questions and additional health history questions presented in the initial screening to confirm eligibility. Foot length measurements and additional surveys (i.e., the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IDFAI) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ)) will be administered. If eligibility is confirmed, participants will be enrolled and complete the study procedures. After eligibility is confirmed, participants will also complete the past-year physical activity questionnaire (PYPAQ) and a running history questionnaire.

Following the surveys, height and weight will be measured then the dominant limb test and the preferred speed test will be performed. The dominant limb test determines whether the right or left lower limb is the dominant limb by observing which limb participants use to kick a ball. The preferred speed test involves the participant walking or running at or near their reported preferred speed (or 2.9 mph for walking and 4.5 mph for running if preferred speed is unknown). The speed will be blinded to the participant. The researcher will increase or decrease the speed in 0.5-1.0 mph increments until the participant identifies the same speed as their preferred speed three times.

Next, the participant will be prepared for data collection. Participants will be asked to change into form fitting clothing (provided by the laboratory, if needed) and combat boots provided by the laboratory (Phase 2). Reflective markers and the lab's research-grade inertial measurement units (IMUs) will be placed on anatomical landmarks of both feet, lower-legs, thighs, and pelvis, and the sensor-enabled ankle brace ("sXAB") will be secured on the dominant limb, if the first randomized condition is the brace condition. Participants will warm-up by walking on a treadmill before completing each of the brace conditions (brace and no-brace) to acclimate wearing the brace and/or the reflective markers and lab IMUs. Participants will then be asked to complete the movement tests specific to each protocol (Phase 2: standing balance, stairs, drop landing, walking at preferred speed, and running at preferred speed) while wearing the sXAB and without wearing the brace ("no brace" condition) as three-dimensional motion capture data, force plate data, IMU data, and data from the sXAB (if worn) are recorded. The order of the bracing conditions will be presented in a random order. The brace will be worn on the dominant limb. Within each brace condition, the standing balance test will be performed first then the remaining movements will be presented in a random order. After the first brace condition is complete, the participant will be prepared to complete the second brace condition then repeat the warm-up, standing balance test, and the movement tests.

Participants may complete Phase 2 activities in either one or two study visits, depending on participant preference.

Being tested
Sensor-enabled Athletic X Ankle Brace (sXAB)
Keywords
adult, gait, gait analysis, humans, ankle brace, motion capture, sensor validation, wearable electronic devices, wearable sensors, inertial measurement unit, IMU, locomotion, running, walking, landing, stair ascent, stair descent

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Sensor-enabled Athletic X Ankle Brace (sXAB)Device

    The intervention is a sensor-enabled version of the TayCo Brace, Inc. Athletic X Ankle Brace (sXAB), which integrates commercially available inertial measurement units (IMUs) into the structure of the brace. The brace is worn on the ankle of the dominant limb during functional movement tasks to evaluate its ability to produce valid gait and balance metrics compared to laboratory-grade measurement systems.

Study groups in NCT07776223
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Single Group: Brace and No-Brace ConditionsExperimentalThis study includes a single group of participants (collected across two cohorts) who complete movement tasks under two within-subject conditions: (1) wearing a sensor-enabled ankle brace ("brace" condition), and (2) without the brace ("no-brace" condition). Each participant serves as their own control. The brace condition order is randomized, and all participants experience both conditions.
Receives: Device: Sensor-enabled Athletic X Ankle Brace (sXAB)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Validation of kinematic data collected by the sensor-enabled ankle brace (sXAB)

    This outcome evaluates whether kinematic data collected using the sensor-enabled ankle brace (sXAB) are sufficiently accurate and reliable compared to gold-standard laboratory systems (motion capture and force plates). Agreement between sXAB and laboratory reference systems will be assessed using measures of validity and reliability for ankle kinematic variables, including sagittal plane joint angles and range of motion. Data are collected during brace conditions across multiple movement tasks.

    Measured: At study visit(s), completed up to 1 week after enrollment.

  2. Validation of spatiotemporal parameters collected by the sensor-enabled ankle brace (sXAB)

    This outcome evaluates whether spatiotemporal parameters collected using the sensor-enabled ankle brace (sXAB) are sufficiently accurate and reliable compared to gold-standard laboratory systems (motion capture and force plates). Agreement between sXAB and laboratory reference systems will be assessed using measures of validity and reliability for stance time, stride length, gait speed. Data are collected during brace conditions across multiple movement tasks.

    Measured: At study visit(s), completed up to 1 week after enrollment.

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Validation of kinetic data collected by the sensor-enabled ankle brace (sXAB)

    This outcome evaluates whether kinetic data collected using the sensor-enabled ankle brace (sXAB) are sufficiently accurate and reliable compared to gold-standard laboratory systems (motion capture and force plates). Agreement between sXAB and laboratory reference systems will be assessed using measures of validity and reliability for peak vertical ground reaction force and total vertical impulse. Data are collected during brace conditions across multiple movement tasks.

    Measured: At study visit(s), completed up to 1 week after enrollment

  2. Validation of balance data collected by the sensor-enabled ankle brace (sXAB)

    This outcome evaluates whether balance data collected using the sensor-enabled ankle brace (sXAB) are sufficiently accurate and reliable compared to gold-standard laboratory systems (motion capture and force plates). Agreement between sXAB and laboratory reference systems will be assessed using measures of validity and reliability for postural sway amplitude and velocity. Data are collected during brace conditions across multiple movement tasks.

    Measured: At study visit(s), completed up to 1 week after enrollment

  3. Equivalence of kinematic data collected by the sensor-enabled ankle brace (sXAB)

    This outcome evaluates whether kinematic data collected using the sensor-enabled ankle brace (sXAB) are equivalent to data collected using laboratory systems (research-grade IMUs). Agreement between sXAB and laboratory reference systems will be assessed using measures of validity and reliability for sagittal plane joint angles, range of motion. Data are collected during brace conditions across multiple movement tasks.

    Measured: At study visit(s), completed up to 1 week after enrollment

  4. Equivalence of spatiotemporal parameters collected by the sensor-enabled ankle brace (sXAB)

    This outcome evaluates whether spatiotemporal parameters collected using the sensor-enabled ankle brace (sXAB) are equivalent to data collected using gold-standard laboratory systems (research-grade IMUs). Agreement between sXAB and laboratory reference systems will be assessed using measures of validity and reliability for stance time, stride length, gait speed. Data are collected during brace conditions across multiple movement tasks.

    Measured: At study visit(s), completed up to 1 week after enrollment

  5. Activity Recognition

    The inertial measurement unit (IMU) data collected from the sensor-enabled ankle brace (sXAB) will be analyzed to determine what activity was occurring at which times during the data set.

    Measured: At study visit(s), completed up to 1 week after enrollment

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted20 Aug 2026
  2. Study start5 May 2026
  3. Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)

Resources

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
Other
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
This is a randomized, open-label, single-group interventional study evaluating the measurement feasibility of the TayCo Brace, Inc. sensor-enabled Athletic X ankle brace (sXAB). The primary purpose of this study is to conduct a clinical trial to test a prototype device for feasibility and not health outcomes. To do so, we will compare gait and balance metrics derived from the sXAB to those from gold-standard motion capture and research-grade inertial measurement units (IMUs). Protocol/cohort 2 includes a balance test, stair ascent, stair descent, drop landing, walking, and running, all performed under brace and no-brace conditions. The order of bracing conditions will be randomized for each participant, as will the order of tasks and speeds within each condition. The study is not blinded.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
40 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07776223
Sponsor's protocol ID
22304b
Other IDs
FWR20240183X
Status last verified
Oct 2026
First submitted
17 Aug 2026
Last updated
14 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Rhon DI, Greenlee TA, Cook CE, Westrick RB, Umlauf JA, Fraser JJ. Fractures and Chronic Recurrence are Commonly Associated with Ankle Sprains: a 5-year Population-level Cohort of Patients Seen in the U.S. Military Health System. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2021 Oct 1;16(5):1313-1322. doi: 10.26603/001c.27912. eCollection 2021.

    PubMed 34631252
  • Gurchiek RD, Choquette RH, Beynnon BD, Slauterbeck JR, Tourville TW, Toth MJ, McGinnis RS. Open-Source Remote Gait Analysis: A Post-Surgery Patient Monitoring Application. Sci Rep. 2019 Nov 29;9(1):17966. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-54399-1.

    PubMed 31784691
  • Hafer JF, Provenzano SG, Kern KL, Agresta CE, Grant JA, Zernicke RF. Measuring markers of aging and knee osteoarthritis gait using inertial measurement units. J Biomech. 2020 Jan 23;99:109567. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2019.109567. Epub 2019 Dec 27.

    PubMed 31916999

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Sensor-enabled Athletic X Ankle Brace (sXAB) in people with Gait and Balance, run by Indiana University 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 4 inclusion and 10 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 14 Oct 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 Allison H Gruber, PhD (8128562447, ahgruber@iu.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Validation of kinematic data collected by the sensor-enabled ankle brace (sXAB) (time frame: At study visit(s), completed up to 1 week after enrollment.). 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?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07776223, which also lists 3 linked publications.

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 14 Oct 2026.

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