Chiropractic for Kids With Sensory Processing Challenges (SPD)

May 4, 2026 updated by: Tyson Perez, DC, PhD, Life University

The Effects of Chiropractic on Kids With Sensory Processing Challenges: a Pilot Observational Study

The main aim of this pilot observational study is to investigate the feasibility of implementing our novel assessment battery in tandem with normal and customary chiropractic care in a practice-based setting using a pediatric population with parent-reported sensory processing disorder (SPD). The secondary aim is to assess potential changes in objective and subjective outcomes.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Twenty (20) parents & children with probable or definite parent-reported SPD as determined by the Short Sensory Profile (SSP) will be enrolled. The primary outcomes are 1) eligibility, 2) tolerability, 3) adherence, and 4) retention. The secondary aim is to assess the potential effects of subluxation-based pediatric chiropractic care on electrocardiography (ECG)-derived heart rate variability (HRV) and parent-reported outcomes (PROs). Results from this study will inform the feasibility of a larger study powered to assess the effectiveness of pediatric chiropractic care on clinical outcomes in a pediatric population with SPD.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

20

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Wisconsin
      • Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, United States, 54729
        • Well Adjusted Students

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Children aged 5-12 years whose parents/caregivers identify the presence of symptoms associated with sensory processing disorder (SPD). A formal clinical diagnosis is not required for inclusion.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 5-12 years of age.
  • SSP total scores ≤154

Exclusion Criteria:

  • A known heart condition, including pacemakers
  • Chiropractic care within the past 30 days

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Children (5-12) with SPD-Related Symptoms
Children aged 5-12 years whose parents/caregivers identify the presence of symptoms associated with sensory processing disorder (SPD). A formal clinical diagnosis is not required for inclusion.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Proportion of enrollees who are eligible to participate
Time Frame: From enrollment to baseline SSP score evaluation (up to 1 hour)
The number of enrollees (i.e., participants who consent/assent) who score ≤154 on the baseline Short Sensory Profile (SSP), divided by the total number of enrollees. This assesses 'Eligibility'.
From enrollment to baseline SSP score evaluation (up to 1 hour)
Proportion of participants able to tolerate the assessments
Time Frame: From enrollment to baseline assessment completion (up to 1 hour)
The number of participants able to complete all baseline assessments as directed, divided by the total number of participants. This assesses 'Tolerability'.
From enrollment to baseline assessment completion (up to 1 hour)
Proportion of participants adhering to the recommended care plan
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of participation (up to 10 weeks)
The number of participants attending 15 sessions of chiropractic care within 10 weeks, divided by the total number of participants. This assesses 'Adherence'.
From enrollment to the end of participation (up to 10 weeks)
Proportion of participants retained in the study
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of the 10 week study period.
The number of participants attending the 3rd and final assessment session, divided by the total number of participants. This assesses 'Retention'.
From enrollment to the end of the 10 week study period.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of participation (up to 10 weeks)
Change in resting-state heart rate variability (HRV) from baseline. Children will undertake 3 minutes of electrocardiography (ECG) while seated. ECG data will be used to derive HRV (i.e., RMSSD).
From enrollment to the end of participation (up to 10 weeks)
Change in Short Sensory Profile (SSP) Scores
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of participation (up to 10 weeks)
Change in SSP scores from baseline. The SSP is a 38-item parent-report designed to assess a child's responsiveness to sensory stimuli including tactile sensitivity, taste/smell sensitivity, and visual/auditory sensitivity.
From enrollment to the end of participation (up to 10 weeks)
Change in Pediatric Autonomic Symptom Scales (PASS) Scores
Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of participation (up to 10 weeks)
Change in PASS scores from baseline. The PASS is an 80-item parent-report questionnaire designed to assess autonomic function in children across four main subscales: 1) mood, behavior, and emotion; 2) secretomotor/sensory integration; 3) urinary/gastrointestinal systems; 4) circulation, thermoregulation, sleep, and breathing.
From enrollment to the end of participation (up to 10 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Life University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Tyson Perez, DC, PhD, Life University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

August 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 20, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 20, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

December 1, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 4, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • EXPTP011226

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Deidentified IPD necessary to reproduce results.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

(start date): within 1 year of study completion. (end date): indefinitely

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

IPD, metadata & analytic code necessary to reproduce results will be made publicly accessible via a data repository

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • ANALYTIC_CODE

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Sensory Processing Disorder

Clinical Trials on Chiropractic Care

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Lithuania

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe