Impact of Tai Chi in Cervical Myelopathy

NCT ID: NCT06876012

Last Updated: 2025-07-29

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-08-31

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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The goal of this observational study is to determine if patients with cervical myelopathy who participate in a Tai Chi program will demonstrate improved gait and balance compared to patients who undergo usual care.

Participants must be 18 years or older and have a diagnosis of cervical myelopathy.

Detailed Description

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Patients who meet inclusion criteria and choose to participate will be randomized to either participate in a Tai Chi falls-prevention program or continue with usual care. Those in the Tai Chi program will attend a pre-determined number of Tai Chi classes for a period of approximately 6-8 weeks. Investigators will assess their gait and balance at the time of enrollment and at several timepoints after they have participated in the class (similar timepoints for those randomized to usual care).

Conditions

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Cervical Myelopathy Balance Assessment Fall Risk

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Standard of Care (Control)

Subjects will follow the current standard of care procedures utilized by the WVU Spine Center.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Intervention Group (Tai Chi)

These subjects will participate in 12 sessions of Tai Chi class over the course of 6 weeks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Tai Chi Program

Intervention Type OTHER

Twelve sessions (six weeks) of a Tai Chi Program to assist with balance and fall risk.

Interventions

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Tai Chi Program

Twelve sessions (six weeks) of a Tai Chi Program to assist with balance and fall risk.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Diagnosis of Cervical Myelopathy with planned surgery
* 18 years of age or older
* Able to participate in intervention (attend and participate in classes)

Exclusion Criteria

* Wheelchair bound at initial visit
* Other verified potential cause of gait instability/balance problems
* Unable to participate in intervention (unable to attend/participate in classes)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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West Virginia University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Scott Daffner

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Scott Daffner, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

West Virginia University School of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics

Andrya Durr, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

West Virginia University School of Public Health

Central Contacts

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Jennifer Eicher, BS, CCRP

Role: CONTACT

304-293-2485

References

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Chen Y, Wan A, Mao M, Sun W, Song Q, Mao D. Tai Chi practice enables prefrontal cortex bilateral activation and gait performance prioritization during dual-task negotiating obstacle in older adults. Front Aging Neurosci. 2022 Nov 18;14:1000427. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1000427. eCollection 2022.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36466597 (View on PubMed)

Zu Y, Luo L, Chen X, Xie H, Yang CR, Qi Y, Niu W. Characteristics of corticomuscular coupling during wheelchair Tai Chi in patients with spinal cord injury. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2023 Jun 17;20(1):79. doi: 10.1186/s12984-023-01203-x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 37330516 (View on PubMed)

Tsang WW, Gao KL, Chan KM, Purves S, Macfarlane DJ, Fong SS. Sitting tai chi improves the balance control and muscle strength of community-dwelling persons with spinal cord injuries: a pilot study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:523852. doi: 10.1155/2015/523852. Epub 2015 Jan 21.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25688276 (View on PubMed)

Qi Y, Zhang X, Zhao Y, Xie H, Shen X, Niu W, Wang Y. The effect of wheelchair Tai Chi on balance control and quality of life among survivors of spinal cord injuries: A randomized controlled trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018 Nov;33:7-11. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.07.004. Epub 2018 Jul 20.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30396629 (View on PubMed)

Chen W, Li M, Li H, Lin Y, Feng Z. Tai Chi for fall prevention and balance improvement in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Public Health. 2023 Sep 1;11:1236050. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1236050. eCollection 2023.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 37736087 (View on PubMed)

Voukelatos A, Cumming RG, Lord SR, Rissel C. A randomized, controlled trial of tai chi for the prevention of falls: the Central Sydney tai chi trial. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007 Aug;55(8):1185-91. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01244.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17661956 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2409042637

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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