Virtual reality balance test could help diagnose spinal cord condition in veterans
NCT ID NCT03810781
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested a simple, portable virtual reality balance test (called VETS) to see if it could help diagnose and track cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), a spinal cord condition common in veterans. Eight participants with CSM and a control group performed balance tasks under different visual and surface conditions. The goal was to gather data to support larger studies that could make this test a standard part of care.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to a simple, low-cost balance test to help diagnose and monitor cervical myelopathy in veterans.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very small study (8 participants) and only collected pre-surgery data due to COVID-19. Much larger studies are needed to confirm if the test is useful in practice.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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8 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2019
- Finished
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Sep 2022
- Lead sponsor
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A government agency
The lead sponsor is a US federal agency other than the NIH.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
US Veterans.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Patients in the CSM group will be selected based on clinical criteria. Inclusion criteria for the CSM group are: * symptoms of myelopathy in upper and lower extremities and stenosis of the cervical spine demonstrated by MRI or myelography * lower extremity muscle strength of 4 as quantified by manual muscle test (MMT) 36 or above * ability to stand without support with eyes closed for 30 s or more * Veterans in the control group will be recruited from the SVAMC and surrounding community using printed advertisements Exclusion Criteria: Exclusion criteria for all study participants are: * presence of lower extremity or lumbar spine disease * peripheral neuropathy * history of other neurological disorder * inability to stand in an upright position with both feet together and eyes closed * Although the SVAMC population is predominately Caucasian and male, every effort will be made to recruit minorities and women * The proposed study will neither target for recruitment nor will the investigators exclude pregnant women
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Syracuse VA Medical Center, Syracuse, NY
Syracuse, New York, 13210, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.