Improving knee function after ACL surgery using a special treadmill technique
Official title: Mi-SPA: Michigan Split-belt Adaptation Paradigm to Improve Knee Loading After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11035197 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how walking on a special treadmill, where each leg moves at different speeds, can help people recover better after ACL surgery by improving knee strength and movement, and it’s designed for those who have had this surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $211,921 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AR082643-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11035197 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have recently undergone ACL reconstruction and are experiencing difficulties with knee loading and mobility.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not had ACL surgery or those with other severe knee conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how split-belt treadmill training can help restore normal loading patterns in the knee after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Patients will walk on a treadmill where each leg moves at different speeds, which may help increase the strength and function of the surgical knee. The study aims to determine the best training speeds and methods to enhance recovery and prevent future injuries. Participants will be monitored to assess changes in their knee mechanics and overall mobility.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved rehabilitation strategies that enhance knee function and reduce the risk of re-injury for patients recovering from ACL surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that split-belt treadmill training can effectively modify gait patterns in other populations, but its application in ACL reconstruction patients is novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Palmieri-Smith, Riann Marie — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Palmieri-Smith, Riann Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Split-belt treadmill training to restore knee loading after ACL surgery
This project uses split-belt treadmill walking to help people who had ACL reconstruction regain more normal loading on their repaired knee during everyday activities.
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Improving healing after ACL surgery with targeted medicine
This work explores how a special medicine delivered directly to the knee might help tendons heal better to bone after ACL reconstruction surgery.
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Improving tendon-to-bone healing after ACL surgery
This study is looking at a new way to help your knee heal better after ACL surgery by using special treatments right where the tendon connects to the bone, which could make recovery faster and reduce the chances of problems later on.
-
Analgesic effects of adding BiFeS block to adductor canal block after ACL reconstruction
This study tests whether adding a BiFeS block to the standard adductor canal block provides better pain relief after ACL reconstruction.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.