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NCT Number: NCT07356999

Characterization of Visual Perception Impairments in Patients With Idiopathic Scoliosis

Scoliosis is more than just a curve in the spine; it is a complex, 3D twisting of the backbone. While it can be caused by birth defects or tumors, the most common type-idiopathic scoliosis-appears in healthy teenagers for no clearly known reason.

The Theory of Balance Researchers believe that scoliosis might actually be caused by a "glitch" in how the body stays upright. Instead of the spine curving on its own, the curve might be the body's way of compensating for a poor sense of balance.

To stay balanced, the human brain relies on three main "inputs":

1. The Vestibular System: Located in the inner ear (detects movement). 2. Proprioception: The body's "inner map" (sensing where your limbs are). 3. Vision: Seeing the world around you to stay oriented.

The Goal of the Study Even though humans rely heavily on their eyes to stay balanced, the role of vision in scoliosis has not been studied very much.

This experiment aims to test the hypothesis that teenagers with scoliosis have trouble processing visual information to maintain their posture. By using advanced motion analysis, researchers want to see if a "misunderstanding" of visual cues is contributing to the spinal deformity.

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Key information

Conditions

Idiopathic Scoliosis

Age range

11 year–18 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Centre Médico chirurgical de Réadaptation des Massues

Lyon, 69005, France

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Julie Rozaire, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+33 4 72 38 11 43

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

Group Scoliosis:

  • Girls or boys aged 11 to 18 inclusive.
  • Patients with progressive idiopathic scoliosis
  • Candidates for either orthopedic (brace) or surgical (arthrodesis correction) treatment for which a pre-therapeutic multimodal assessment is planned.

Control group:

  • Girls or boys aged 11 to 18 inclusive.

Exclusion criteria

The following individuals will not be included:

  • Individuals with another musculoskeletal disorder.
  • Individuals with a neurosensory disorder that may affect the balance of the trunk or lower limbs.
  • Individuals with uncorrected visual perception disorders (visual check within 12 months prior to the examination).
  • Lack of consent from the subject.
  • Lack of consent from legal representatives.
  • Failure to understand the instructions for performing the tests.

In addition, for the control group:

  • Suffering from scoliosis

Treatment and study plan

Motion analysis

Other

Researchers use motion capture to track exactly how a patient's body moves and shifts in response to different environments.

Primary outcomes

  1. Margin of Dynamic Stability

    Time frame: At enrollment

    This measures how close a person is to losing their balance while moving. It calculates the distance between where the body's weight is moving and the edge of the person's "footprint" (base of support).

  2. Center of Pressure

    Time frame: At enrollment

    The point on the ground where the most weight is being concentrated. Tracking how much this point "wobbles" or shifts shows how hard the body is working to stay upright.

  3. Extrapolated Center of Mass

    Time frame: At enrollment

    A calculation that looks at both the position of the body and its velocity. It helps researchers predict if the person's momentum is about to carry them off-balance.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Base of Support

    Time frame: At enrollment

    The total area on the ground occupied by the feet. A wider BoS often suggests the subject is trying to create a "wider stance" to feel more stable.

  2. Visual Field Perception

    Time frame: At enrollment

    The "Distance Error." Using a joystick, the patient tries to place a 3D avatar exactly halfway between two other figures. The difference between the true middle and where the patient thinks the middle is reveals if their depth perception is distorted.

  3. Subjective Visual Vertical

    Time frame: At enrollment

    Angular Error. A glowing line is tilted on a screen, and the patient must tell the operator how to rotate it until it is perfectly vertical.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Centre Médico-Chirurgical de Réadaptation des Massues Croix Rouge Française

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Characterization of Visual Perception Alterations in Patients With Idiopathic Scoliosis: Towards a Theory of Perceptual Imbalance

Acronym: EYAIS

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jan 21, 2026
Registry last updated
May 26, 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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