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NCT Number: NCT07837778

Anchoring and Postural Stability

This study will compare standing balance in adults ages 18 to 50 during normal standing, inward anchoring, and outward anchoring. Anchoring involves standing with the feet wider than shoulder width and trying to pull the legs together or push them apart without moving the feet. Participants will complete all three conditions in a randomly assigned order. A researcher will use a handheld force-measuring instrument at six points on the pelvis to measure how much pressure participants can resist before a foot lifts from the floor. Participants will also rate how stable they feel after each anchoring condition. The first 18 participants will repeat assessments to evaluate measurement consistency. Participation is expected to last 60 minutes, or 90 minutes for those completing repeat assessments.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy Adult Participants

Age range

18 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Central Florida Spine and Mobility Lab

Orlando, Florida, 32816, United States

Location status: Recruiting

About this study

The study will enroll 72 adults from the University of Central Florida community. Participants will be randomized with equal probability to one of six counterbalanced orders of normal stance, inward anchoring, and outward anchoring. Every participant will complete all three conditions.

Inward anchoring involves attempting to draw the legs toward one another without moving the feet. Outward anchoring involves attempting to press the legs away from one another without moving the feet. Both anchoring conditions use a stance wider than shoulder width. Participants will wear their usual athletic footwear.

The same tester will apply a microFET2 handheld dynamometer at the right and left anterior superior iliac spines, iliac crests, and posterior superior iliac spines. Applied pressure will increase until the sole of the foot closest to the tester leaves the floor, at which point force will be recorded in newtons. Each site will be tested three times in each stance. Rest periods will be one minute between sets within a stance and two minutes between stances. Instructions for the next stance will be given during the final minute of the between-stance rest period.

After each anchoring condition, participants will rate perceived stability. The first 18 participants will complete additional repeat assessments for intrarater reliability analysis. The protocol plans repeated-measures analyses for stance/order comparisons and intraclass correlation coefficients for reliability.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults aged 18-50 years.
  • Able to provide informed consent and independently read, write, and communicate in English.

Exclusion criteria

  • History of neurological or vestibular conditions affecting balance, such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or vertigo, or uncorrected/inadequately corrected visual deficits affecting postural control.
  • Lower-extremity or spinal injury, orthopedic surgery, or a musculoskeletal condition within the past 6-12 months that may affect balance, force production, or safe participation.
  • Current pain or dysfunction limiting safe standing or weight-bearing tasks.
  • Use of medications that may affect balance, coordination, or muscle performance, such as muscle relaxants, opioids, or sedatives.
  • A cardiovascular or systemic condition that makes participation unsafe, such as uncontrolled hypertension, dizziness, or syncope, or inability to stand independently for the duration of testing.

Treatment and study plan

Normal Stance

Other

Participants stand normally while the tester performs the protocol's pelvic force assessments. This condition provides the within-participant comparison for the two anchoring techniques

Inward Anchoring

Other

Participants stand upright with their feet wider than shoulder width and attempt to pull their legs toward each other without moving the feet. They maintain the position during the pelvic force assessments.

Outward Anchoring

Other

Participants stand upright with their feet wider than shoulder width and attempt to push their legs away from each other without moving the feet. They maintain the position during the pelvic force assessments.

Primary outcomes

  1. Mean Break-Point Force at the Right Anterior Superior Iliac Spine

    Time frame: Day 1

    A microFET2 handheld dynamometer is applied at the right anterior superior iliac spine during normal stance, inward anchoring, and outward anchoring. Force in newtons is recorded when the sole of the foot closest to the tester leaves the floor. Three readings are collected per stance

  2. Mean Break-Point Force at the Left Anterior Superior Iliac Spine

    Time frame: Day 1

    A microFET2 handheld dynamometer is applied at the left anterior superior iliac spine during normal stance, inward anchoring, and outward anchoring. Force in newtons is recorded when the sole of the foot closest to the tester leaves the floor. Three readings are collected per stance.

  3. Mean Break-Point Force at the Right Iliac Crest

    Time frame: Day 1

    A microFET2 handheld dynamometer is applied at the right iliac crest during normal stance, inward anchoring, and outward anchoring. Force in newtons is recorded when the sole of the foot closest to the tester leaves the floor. Three readings are collected per stance

  4. Mean Break-Point Force at the Left Iliac Crest

    Time frame: Day 1

    A microFET2 handheld dynamometer is applied at the left iliac crest during normal stance, inward anchoring, and outward anchoring. Force in newtons is recorded when the sole of the foot closest to the tester leaves the floor. Three readings are collected per stance.

  5. Mean Break-Point Force at the Right Posterior Superior Iliac Spine

    Time frame: Day 1

    A microFET2 handheld dynamometer is applied at the right posterior superior iliac spine during normal stance, inward anchoring, and outward anchoring. Force in newtons is recorded when the sole of the foot closest to the tester leaves the floor. Three readings are collected per stance.

  6. Mean Break-Point Force at the Left Posterior Superior Iliac Spine

    Time frame: Day 1

    A microFET2 handheld dynamometer is applied at the left posterior superior iliac spine during normal stance, inward anchoring, and outward anchoring. Force in newtons is recorded when the sole of the foot closest to the tester leaves the floor. Three readings are collected per stance.

  7. Perceived Stability Rating After Inward Anchoring

    Time frame: Day 1

    After inward anchoring, participants answer how stable they felt during that stance. Ratings range from 0 (not at all stable) to 10 (completely stable); 5 means neutral, or the same stability as normal standing. Higher scores indicate greater perceived stability.

  8. Perceived Stability Rating After Outward Anchoring

    Time frame: Day 1

    After outward anchoring, participants answer how stable they felt during that stance. Ratings range from 0 (not at all stable) to 10 (completely stable); 5 means neutral, or the same stability as normal standing. Higher scores indicate greater perceived stability

Interested in participating?

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Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Central Florida

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Anchoring and Its Effects on Postural Stability

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
Sep 24, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 24, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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