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NCT Number: NCT06876012

Impact of Tai Chi in Cervical Myelopathy

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.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

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).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

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)

Treatment and study plan

Tai Chi Program

Other

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

Primary outcomes

  1. Timed Up and Go Test - Baseline

    Time frame: Baseline

    Establish a baseline score. The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) assesses mobility, balance, walking ability, and fall risk in older adults.

    Setup: The person sits in a standard armchair. Instructions: On the command "Go," the person stands up, walks 3 meters (about 10 feet) at a comfortable pace, turns around, walks back to the chair, and sits down.

    Timing: The time taken from the command "Go" until the person sits back down is recorded. This is recorded in minutes:seconds.

    Scoring Normal Mobility: Completing the test in less than 10 seconds. Mild Mobility Impairment: Completing the test in 10-19 seconds. Moderate Mobility Impairment: Completing the test in 20-29 seconds. Severe Mobility Impairment: Taking 30 seconds or more to complete the test. A time of 12 seconds or more indicates a higher risk of falling.

  2. Timed Up and Go Test - 6 weeks

    Time frame: 6 weeks post-operatively

    The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) assesses mobility, balance, walking ability, and fall risk in older adults. This is recorded in minutes:seconds.

    Setup: The person sits in a standard armchair. Instructions: On the command "Go," the person stands up, walks 3 meters (about 10 feet) at a comfortable pace, turns around, walks back to the chair, and sits down.

    Timing: The time taken from the command "Go" until the person sits back down is recorded. This is recorded in minutes:seconds.

    Scoring Normal Mobility: Completing the test in less than 10 seconds. Mild Mobility Impairment: Completing the test in 10-19 seconds. Moderate Mobility Impairment: Completing the test in 20-29 seconds. Severe Mobility Impairment: Taking 30 seconds or more to complete the test. A time of 12 seconds or more indicates a higher risk of falling.

  3. Timed Up and Go Test - 3 months

    Time frame: 3 months post-operatively

    The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) assesses mobility, balance, walking ability, and fall risk in older adults. This is recorded in minutes:seconds.

    Setup: The person sits in a standard armchair. Instructions: On the command "Go," the person stands up, walks 3 meters (about 10 feet) at a comfortable pace, turns around, walks back to the chair, and sits down.

    Timing: The time taken from the command "Go" until the person sits back down is recorded. This is recorded in minutes:seconds.

    Scoring Normal Mobility: Completing the test in less than 10 seconds. Mild Mobility Impairment: Completing the test in 10-19 seconds. Moderate Mobility Impairment: Completing the test in 20-29 seconds. Severe Mobility Impairment: Taking 30 seconds or more to complete the test. A time of 12 seconds or more indicates a higher risk of falling.

  4. Timed Up and Go Test - 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months post-operatively

    The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) assesses mobility, balance, walking ability, and fall risk in older adults. This is recorded in minutes:seconds.

    Setup: The person sits in a standard armchair. Instructions: On the command "Go," the person stands up, walks 3 meters (about 10 feet) at a comfortable pace, turns around, walks back to the chair, and sits down.

    Timing: The time taken from the command "Go" until the person sits back down is recorded. This is recorded in minutes:seconds.

    Scoring Normal Mobility: Completing the test in less than 10 seconds. Mild Mobility Impairment: Completing the test in 10-19 seconds. Moderate Mobility Impairment: Completing the test in 20-29 seconds. Severe Mobility Impairment: Taking 30 seconds or more to complete the test. A time of 12 seconds or more indicates a higher risk of falling.

  5. Timed Up and Go Test - 12 months

    Time frame: 12 months post-operatively

    The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) assesses mobility, balance, walking ability, and fall risk in older adults. This is recorded in minutes:seconds.

    Setup: The person sits in a standard armchair. Instructions: On the command "Go," the person stands up, walks 3 meters (about 10 feet) at a comfortable pace, turns around, walks back to the chair, and sits down.

    Timing: The time taken from the command "Go" until the person sits back down is recorded. This is recorded in minutes:seconds.

    Scoring Normal Mobility: Completing the test in less than 10 seconds. Mild Mobility Impairment: Completing the test in 10-19 seconds. Moderate Mobility Impairment: Completing the test in 20-29 seconds. Severe Mobility Impairment: Taking 30 seconds or more to complete the test. A time of 12 seconds or more indicates a higher risk of falling.

Secondary outcomes

  1. 10-Step Tandem Gait Test - Baseline

    Time frame: Baseline

    Establish a baseline score. The 10-Step Tandem Gait Test asks participants to walk a straight line making a toe-to-heal touch with each step at the subject's own velocity. The number of steps made before the first misstep is counted. After first 10-step tandem gait test, the subject turns around and repeats the tandem gait test in the same line and the number of steps is counted in the same manner. This is a graded score from 0-4. The higher grade demonstrates better gait.

    Scoring Grade 4: Completes all 10 steps without any instability. Grade 3: Completes 8-9 steps with minimal instability. Grade 2: Completes 6-7 steps with moderate instability. Grade 1: Completes 4-5 steps with significant instability. Grade 0: Completes fewer than 4 steps or is unable to perform the test due to severe instability.

  2. 10-Step Tandem Gait Test - 6 weeks

    Time frame: 6 weeks post-operatively

    The 10-Step Tandem Gait Test asks participants to walk a straight line making a toe-to-heal touch with each step at the subject's own velocity. The number of steps made before the first misstep is counted. After first 10-step tandem gait test, the subject turns around and repeats the tandem gait test in the same line and the number of steps is counted in the same manner. This is a graded score from 0-4. The higher grade demonstrates better gait.

    Scoring Grade 4: Completes all 10 steps without any instability. Grade 3: Completes 8-9 steps with minimal instability. Grade 2: Completes 6-7 steps with moderate instability. Grade 1: Completes 4-5 steps with significant instability. Grade 0: Completes fewer than 4 steps or is unable to perform the test due to severe instability.

  3. 10-Step Tandem Gait Test - 3 months

    Time frame: 3 months post-operatively

    The 10-Step Tandem Gait Test asks participants to walk a straight line making a toe-to-heal touch with each step at the subject's own velocity. The number of steps made before the first misstep is counted. After first 10-step tandem gait test, the subject turns around and repeats the tandem gait test in the same line and the number of steps is counted in the same manner. This is a graded score from 0-4. The higher grade demonstrates better gait.

    Scoring Grade 4: Completes all 10 steps without any instability. Grade 3: Completes 8-9 steps with minimal instability. Grade 2: Completes 6-7 steps with moderate instability. Grade 1: Completes 4-5 steps with significant instability. Grade 0: Completes fewer than 4 steps or is unable to perform the test due to severe instability.

  4. 10-Step Tandem Gait Test - 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months post-operatively

    The 10-Step Tandem Gait Test asks participants to walk a straight line making a toe-to-heal touch with each step at the subject's own velocity. The number of steps made before the first misstep is counted. After first 10-step tandem gait test, the subject turns around and repeats the tandem gait test in the same line and the number of steps is counted in the same manner. This is a graded score from 0-4. The higher grade demonstrates better gait.

    Scoring Grade 4: Completes all 10 steps without any instability. Grade 3: Completes 8-9 steps with minimal instability. Grade 2: Completes 6-7 steps with moderate instability. Grade 1: Completes 4-5 steps with significant instability. Grade 0: Completes fewer than 4 steps or is unable to perform the test due to severe instability.

  5. 10-Step Tandem Gait Test - 12 Month

    Time frame: 12 months post-operatively

    The 10-Step Tandem Gait Test asks participants to walk a straight line making a toe-to-heal touch with each step at the subject's own velocity. The number of steps made before the first misstep is counted. After first 10-step tandem gait test, the subject turns around and repeats the tandem gait test in the same line and the number of steps is counted in the same manner. This is a graded score from 0-4. The higher grade demonstrates better gait.

    Scoring Grade 4: Completes all 10 steps without any instability. Grade 3: Completes 8-9 steps with minimal instability. Grade 2: Completes 6-7 steps with moderate instability. Grade 1: Completes 4-5 steps with significant instability. Grade 0: Completes fewer than 4 steps or is unable to perform the test due to severe instability.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Jennifer Eicher, BS, CCRP

CONTACT

[email protected]

304-293-2485

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

West Virginia University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Impact of Tai Chi on Balance and Fall Risk in Patients With Cervical Myelopathy

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
Mar 14, 2025
Registry last updated
Apr 15, 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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