- Research at Parker
- Research Staff
- Christopher A. Malaya
Christopher A. Malaya, DC, PhD
Christopher A. Malaya, DC, PhD, is an Associate Professor at Parker University. He earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Parker University in 2018 and was the first student to graduate with research honors. He completed his PhD in Motor Control at the University of Houston in 2022.Â
Dr. Malaya’s primary research interests include gravitational mechanisms of gait, human health and performance during spaceflight, and sensorimotor integration and adaptation. His work spans biomechanics, neuroscience, chiropractic clinical research, and human performance across altered gravity environments.
Publications
Malaya CA, Parikh PJ, Smith DL, Layne CS.
Effects of simulated hypergravity on lower limb kinematics and electromyography during walking.
Biomechanics. 2025;5(2):31.
Argenbright CM, Chighizola HJ, Stuber KJ, Malaya CA.
Protocol for the development and validation of a patient-centered assessment method questionnaire—patient version (PCAM-P) for use in chiropractic care.
European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2025;78.
Schueren S, Smith DL, Malaya CA, et al.
Continuing education for the chiropractic profession: a cross-sectional study analyzing potential barriers to future chiropractic academic and research development.
Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. 2025;33:34.
Layne CS, Diaz DM, Malaya CA, Suter B, Holder JL Jr.
Gait kinematics of individuals with SYNGAP1-related disorder compared with age-matched neurotypical individuals.
Applied Sciences. 2025;15:8267.
Funabashi M, Starmer D, Smith NM, et al., Malaya CA.
The role of force-sensing devices in spinal manipulative therapy research, education, and clinical practice.
Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association. 2025;69(1):6–15.
PMID: 40511282; PMCID: PMC12153234
Smith DL, Spaulding B, Ensminger P, McMichael A, Malaya CA, Smith JP.
Chiropractic care and self-reported changes in analgesic and musculoskeletal medication use: a cross-sectional survey.
Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic. 2025;8(1):279–289.
Chadwick E, Dahlke J, Vier D, Malaya CA, et al.
A multimodal approach for lumbar stenosis in an elderly individual: a case report.
Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic. 2025;8(1):290–294.
Parker A, DeArmond W, Lindsey J, Roy P, Malaya CA, Stuber KJ.
Management of lumbar spondylolysis in the adolescent athlete using a dynamic neuromuscular stabilization paradigm: a case report.
Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic. 2025;8(1):92–96.
Parker A, Derry B, Tam G, Malaya CA.
Initiating the Keele STarT Back Screening Tool in a chiropractic academic clinic.
Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic. 2024;7(1):202–213.
Argenbright C, Stuber KJ, Malaya CA.
Comparison of chiropractic student provider and patient perceptions of care utilizing the biopsychosocial model of pain.
Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic. 2024;7(1):183–190.
Malaya CA, Stuber KJ, du Rose A.
A novel view of case reports in chiropractic clinical research: barriers and solutions for clinicians.
Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic. 2024;7(1):173–179.
Stuber KJ, Eklund A, Pohlman KA, et al., Malaya CA.
Exploration of chiropractic students’ motivation toward incorporating new evidence on chiropractic maintenance care: a mixed-methods study.
Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association. 2024;68(2):98–112.
PMID: 39318840; PMCID: PMC11418799
Layne CS, Diaz DM, Malaya CA, et al.
Using linear and non-linear techniques to characterize gait coordination patterns of two individuals with NGLY1 deficiency.
Case Reports in Clinical Medicine. 2024;13.
Futrell B, Malaya CA, Diaz DM, et al.
Quantifying kinematic tremor in an NGLY1-deficient individual: a case study.
Case Reports in Clinical Medicine. 2024;13:25–36.
Layne CS, Malaya CA, John I, Madansingh SI, Forth KE.
Acute knee extensor fatigue does not influence static balance control.
Annals of Sports and Exercise Medicine. 2024;2:1–12.
Layne CS, Malaya CA, Futrell B, et al.
Three-dimensional kinematic comparison of arm movements between an individual with NGLY1 deficiency and a neurotypical individual.
Case Reports in Clinical Medicine. 2024;13:122–146.
Malaya CA, Parikh PJ, Smith DL, Riaz A, Chandrasekaran S, Layne CS.
Effects of simulated hypogravity on lower limb kinematic and electromyographic variables during anti-gravitational treadmill walking.
Frontiers in Physiology. 2023;14:1141015.
Cook A, Moss T, Malaya CA.
Osteoporosis: a review for chiropractic clinicians.
Journal of Contemporary Chiropractic. 2023;6(1):29–51.
Schueren S, Hunger H, Pham H, Smith DL, Layne CS, Malaya CA.
Immediate effect of lower extremity joint manipulation on a somatosensory illusion: a randomized, controlled crossover pilot study.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2022;16:1011997.
Smith DL, Olding K, Malaya CA, et al.
Influence of flexion distraction spinal manipulation on patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a prospective pilot study.
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2022.
Layne CS, Malaya CA, Ravindran AS, et al.
Distinct kinematic and neuromuscular activation strategies during quiet stance with and without a lower-limb exoskeleton.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2022;16:942551.
Layne CS, Malaya CA, Young DR, Suter B, Holder JL Jr.
Comparison of treadmill gait between a pediatric individual with SYNGAP1-related intellectual disability and a fraternal twin.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 2022;16:918918.
Ravindran AS, Malaya CA, John I, et al.
Decoding neural activity preceding balance loss during standing with a lower-limb exoskeleton using an interpretable deep learning model.
Journal of Neural Engineering. 2022;19(3).
https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/ac6ca9
Malaya CA, Smith D, Haworth J, Pohlman KA.
Immediate impact of extremity manipulation on dual-task performance: a randomized crossover clinical trial.
Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. 2021;29(1):6.
Malaya CA, Haworth J, de Luca K, Pohlman KA, Smith DL.
Influence of spinal manipulation on patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a pilot study.
Association of Chiropractic Colleges Research Agenda Conference. January 2021.
Malaya CA, Layne CS.
Effects of neck muscle vibration on subjective visual vertical in an altered visual frame of reference.
Journal of Neurology, Neurological Science and Disorders. 2020:30–34.
Ravindran AS, Cestari M, Malaya CA, et al.
Interpretable deep learning models for single-trial prediction of balance loss.
Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics. 2020:268–273.
Malaya CA, Smith D, Haworth J, Powell C, Pohlman KA.
Impact of extremity manipulation on postural sway characteristics: a randomized crossover study.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2020;43(5):457–468.
Layne CS, Malaya CA, Levine JT.
Effects of muscle vibration on gait control: a review.
Somatosensory & Motor Research. 2019;36(3):212–222.
Haworth J, Malaya CA, Powell C, Smith DL, Pohlman KA.
Sensorimotor control is affected by chiropractic extremity manipulation.
Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology & Life Sciences Annual International Conference. August 2018; Raleigh, NC.
Education
University of HoustonDoctor of Philosophy, Motor Control 2018-2022
Parker UniversityDoctorate, Chiropractic 2015-2018
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