An interventional study of Sham adjustment and Chiropractic adjustment in Subluxation, sponsored by Life University. Suspended at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-03-30.
Sponsored by Life University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
Our primary aim with this trial is to measure participant blinding following two simulated/sham or genuine/real high velocity, low amplitude (HVLA) manual chiropractic adjustments to assess if participants are able to identify their un-disclosed treatment group. Our secondary aims with this trial are to utilize electrocardiography (ECG), impedance cardiography (ICG), and gait analysis before either treatment session and after both treatment sessions to assess if there are any changes with the participants' measurements before and after a sham or genuine HVLA chiropractic treatment.
The primary aim of this trial is to assess blinding following simulated/sham or genuine/real high velocity, low amplitude (HVLA) manual chiropractic adjustments. Briefly, 60 eligible participants will be randomized (1:1 ratio) to receive two sessions of either simulated/sham or genuine/real chiropractic spinal adjustments with a 1 week washout between each treatment. The participants will be given a brief survey immediately following their first and second sessions, as well as immediately prior to the second session. This survey captures their perceptions and experiences regarding the intervention they received. The participants will also complete a pre- and post-electrocardiogram (ECG), impedance cardiography (ICG), and gait analysis. The participant will wear electrical diodes to assess ECG and ICG. Additional sensors will be placed on the participant to assess gait patterns while walking on a treadmill.
98 studies on the registry are indexed under Joint Dislocations; 21 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 60 is above the median of 50 across 60 interventional studies indexed under Joint Dislocations.
Browse Joint Dislocations studies →Life University is the lead sponsor of 29 studies on the registry; 4 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A “mini-stroke”: temporary stroke-like symptoms caused by reduced blood flow to part of the brain, spinal cord or eye, without signs of a new stroke on a scan.
Stroke symptoms need emergency care at once, even if they go away.
TIA (transient ischaemic attack)
A “mini-stroke”: temporary stroke-like symptoms caused by reduced blood flow to part of the brain, spinal cord or eye, without signs of a new stroke on a scan.
Stroke symptoms need emergency care at once, even if they go away.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
30 individuals receiving simulated/sham chiropractic interventions
Procedure: Sham adjustment
30 individuals receiving genuine/real chiropractic interventions
Procedure: Chiropractic adjustment
Two manual high velocity, low amplitude (HVLA) simulated/sham chiropractic interventions in the cervical, thoracic, and/or lumbopelvic regions
Two manual high velocity, low amplitude (HVLA) genuine/real chiropractic interventions in the cervical, thoracic, and/or lumbopelvic regions
Participant blinding
The blinding index is scaled to an internal of -1 to +1, +1 being complete lack of blinding, 0 being consistent with perfect blinding, -1 indicating opposite guessing which may be related to unblinding.
Time frame: Immediately post-session 1 (day 1)
Participant blinding
The blinding index is scaled to an internal of -1 to +1, +1 being complete lack of blinding, 0 being consistent with perfect blinding, -1 indicating opposite guessing which may be related to unblinding.
Time frame: Immediately pre-session 2 (day 2)
Participant blinding
The blinding index is scaled to an internal of -1 to +1, +1 being complete lack of blinding, 0 being consistent with perfect blinding, -1 indicating opposite guessing which may be related to unblinding.
Time frame: Immediately post-session 2 (day 2)
High-frequency Heart Rate Variability (HF-HRV)
3 sensors on torso. HF-HRV indexes fluctuations in the heart period that occur within the 0.12 to 0.5 Hz frequency range
Time frame: baseline
High-frequency Heart Rate Variability (HF-HRV)
3 sensors on torso. HF-HRV indexes fluctuations in the heart period that occur within the 0.12 to 0.5 Hz frequency range.
Time frame: post-session 2 (day 2)
Pre-ejection period (PEP)
3 ECG sensors on the torso + 4 ICG sensors (2 sensors on chest and 2 sensors on back). The PEP is the time interval between the electrical depolarization of the heart (Q-wave on ECG) and the beginning of blood ejection from the heart (B-point on ICG).
Time frame: baseline
Pre-ejection period (PEP)
3 ECG sensors on the torso + 4 ICG sensors (2 sensors on chest and 2 sensors on back). The PEP is the time interval between the electrical depolarization of the heart (Q-wave on ECG) and the beginning of blood ejection from the heart (B-point on ICG).
Time frame: post-session 2 (day 2)
The speed of the participants will be assessed at baseline as part of the gait analysis.
16 inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors (noraxon) and treadmill output measurements
Time frame: baseline
The speed of the participants will be assessed again at post-session 2 as part of the gait analysis.
16 inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors (noraxon) and treadmill output measurements
Time frame: post-session 2 (day 2)
Force measurements generated during walking will be assessed at baseline as part of the gait analysis.
16 inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors (noraxon) and treadmill output measurements
Time frame: baseline
Force measurements generated during walking will be assessed again at post-session 2 as part of the gait analysis.
16 inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors (noraxon) and treadmill output measurements
Time frame: post-session 2 (day 2)
Gait symmetry will be assessed at baseline as part of the gait analysis.
16 inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors (noraxon)
Time frame: baseline
Gait symmetry will be assessed again at post-session 2 as part of the gait analysis.
16 inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors (noraxon)
Time frame: post-session 2 (day 2)
Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD)
3 sensors on torso. RMSSD is a measure of heart rate variability (HRV) that focuses on short-term beat-to-beat changes in the heart period.
Time frame: baseline
Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD)
3 sensors on torso. RMSSD is a measure of heart rate variability (HRV) that focuses on short-term beat-to-beat changes in the heart period.
Time frame: post-session 2 (day 2)
Plan to share: No
This study is suspended, as verified in Mar 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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