Cervical MyelopathyNCT05183971
Proprioceptive Deficits in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy
An observational study of Cervical Myelopathy, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
Proprioceptive deficits in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a progressive neurological deficits in somatosensory and motor function which affects the body balance and motor control. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 50 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Cervical Myelopathy
- What is being tested?
- Proprioceptive Functional Analysis System
- How many people
- 100 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2022to 30 Sep 2046
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 50 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Radiologically confirmed with Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy
Who may be able to join
- Chinese
- Aged 50 or above
- With radiological evidence of degenerative cervical myelopathy, both symptomatic and asymptomatic
- Nurick grade less than 3
Who cannot join
- Non-Chinese ethnicity
- Aged under 50
- without any radiological proof of cervical myelopathy
- Active problems of tuberculosis spine, lumbar spinal diseases, and other problems causing pain or deformities over the limbs that may affect their balance and movement
- Presents with extra-pyramidal or other disorders involving the cerebellum or frontal lobe of the cerebrum leading to poor balance and gait disturbance
- Previous spinal operation with residual disturbance in balance or gait
Show all 9Show fewer
- Non-communicable patients with insufficient cognitive ability to express their symptoms clearly
- Non-walker
- Blind or deaf
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Hong Kong1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
The Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital at Sandy Bay
Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 000
Karlen Ka Pui Law, M. Phil, 852-29740531, karlenhk@connect.hku.hk
About this study
Official title: Early Detection of Proprioceptive Dysfunction in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy by Proprioceptive Functional Analysis in Activities of Daily Living
Proprioceptive deficits in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a progressive neurological deficits in somatosensory and motor function which affects the body balance and motor control. DCM usually presents with body incoordination, hand clumsiness and gait disturbance associated with proprioceptive dysfunction that hinders the physical performance and functions. In this study, a non-invasive assessment protocol on proprioception will be developed for detecting subtle proprioceptive deficits at the early stage of disease through simple Physical Performance Tests for population older than 45. By adopting the physical performance tests as the diagnostic predictors of DCM, we aim to avoid the development of devastating consequences and disabilities.
Read the detailed description
DCM is a chronic insidious disease, one of the most disabling orthopaedic conditions, which involves compression of the spinal cord by the surrounding structures in cervical spinal region. It characterizes with progressive neurological deficits in body coordination, hand clumsiness and gait disturbance as the preliminary symptom which may cause by proprioceptive dysfunction .
Physical performance and function hinder patients' hand clumsiness, gait disturbance and body imbalance. The incoordination between body, upper limbs and lower limbs will be resulted from proprioceptive deficits caused by spinal cord compression. By adopting the Proprioceptive Functional Analysis System (PFAS), proprioceptive deficits over the core body joints and peripheral joints could be tested during Activity of Daily Living (ADL) with reference to normal subjects' performance. All subjects will be tested by the PFAS and Physical Performance Tests.
The idea of regional proprioceptive deficit will be incorporated in the assessment protocol for DCM to facilitates a breakthrough from the traditional DCM functional evaluation.
In developing a non-invasive assessment protocol to assess proprioceptive deficit, we aim to detect subtle proprioceptive deficit from the tests, especially at the very early stage of disease. We target to demonstrate the validity of Physical Performance Tests are evenly high as that of the advanced technology, PFAS.
Consequently, by adopting the valid Physical Performance Tests in health screening scheme for population older than 45 within the community can serve as an early diagnostic parameter of DCM and avoid delayed treatment leading to devastating consequences and disabilities.
- Conditions
- Cervical Myelopathy
- Being tested
- Proprioceptive Functional Analysis System
- Keywords
- Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, Proprioceptive Deficits
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Proprioceptive Functional Analysis SystemOther
Proprioceptive testing and Physical Performance Tests
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy | Chinese subjects aged 50 or above who have radiological evidence of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, symptomatic with Nurick Grade less than 3 will be included. Receives: Other: Proprioceptive Functional Analysis System | |
| (2) Healthy Controls | Chinese healthy controls aged 50 or above who have no myelopathic signs of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy with Nurick Grade less than 3 will be included. Receives: Other: Proprioceptive Functional Analysis System |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Modified Japanese Orthopaedics Association Scoring System for Cervical Myelopathy (mJOA)
mJOA is a self-reported functional questionnaire on disease severity through assessing 4 domains:
- Upper Limb Function
- Lower Limb Function
- Sensory Function
- Bladder Function mJOA has a total score of 17 and it categories DCM patient into different severity as below:
- Mild >= 15
- Moderate = 12-14
- Severe < 12
Measured: 15 years
Secondary outcomes (2)
Proprioceptive Deficits - Speed Test
Proprioceptive deficits hinder the limb coordination, especially the fine finger dexterity, reciprocal walking and stepping. Thus, incoordination over the lower and upper limbs will then be resulted and which alters the speed and integrity of the performance in the Physical Performance Tests validated for DCM.
In the physical performance tests, it has divided into 2 separate sections, the "Speed Test" will be recorded for in terms of the "Time required to complete" the standardized test process in seconds
Measured: 15 years
Proprioceptive Deficits - Time Limited Test
Time Limited Test of physical performance test will be assessed and data will be recorded in terms of "Total number of repetitions completed" within strictly fixed time frame
Measured: 15 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted11 Jan 2022
- Study start1 Sep 2022
- Primary completion30 Sep 2040 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Sep 2046 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Cervical MyelopathyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Karlen Ka Pui Law, M. Phil, Principal investigator, The University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05183971
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UW 20-746
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Dec 2021
- Last updated
- 4 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Data should not be shared with other researchers
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Early Detection of Proprioceptive Dysfunction in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy by Proprioceptive Functional Analysis in Activities of Daily Living
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05183971
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- UW 20-746
- Conditions
- Cervical Myelopathy
- Keywords
- Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, Proprioceptive Deficits
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Sep 2040 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Sep 2046 (estimated)
- First posted
- 11 Jan 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Proprioceptive deficits in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a progressive neurological deficits in somatosensory and motor function which affects the body balance and motor control. DCM usually presents with body incoordination, hand clumsiness and gait disturbance associated with proprioceptive dysfunction that hinders the physical performance and functions. In this study, a non-invasive assessment protocol on proprioception will be developed for detecting subtle proprioceptive deficits at the early stage of disease through simple Physical Performance Tests for population older than 45. By adopting the physical performance tests as the diagnostic predictors of DCM, we aim to avoid the development of devastating consequences and disabilities.
Detailed description
DCM is a chronic insidious disease, one of the most disabling orthopaedic conditions, which involves compression of the spinal cord by the surrounding structures in cervical spinal region. It characterizes with progressive neurological deficits in body coordination, hand clumsiness and gait disturbance as the preliminary symptom which may cause by proprioceptive dysfunction .
Physical performance and function hinder patients' hand clumsiness, gait disturbance and body imbalance. The incoordination between body, upper limbs and lower limbs will be resulted from proprioceptive deficits caused by spinal cord compression. By adopting the Proprioceptive Functional Analysis System (PFAS), proprioceptive deficits over the core body joints and peripheral joints could be tested during Activity of Daily Living (ADL) with reference to normal subjects' performance. All subjects will be tested by the PFAS and Physical Performance Tests.
The idea of regional proprioceptive deficit will be incorporated in the assessment protocol for DCM to facilitates a breakthrough from the traditional DCM functional evaluation.
In developing a non-invasive assessment protocol to assess proprioceptive deficit, we aim to detect subtle proprioceptive deficit from the tests, especially at the very early stage of disease. We target to demonstrate the validity of Physical Performance Tests are evenly high as that of the advanced technology, PFAS.
Consequently, by adopting the valid Physical Performance Tests in health screening scheme for population older than 45 within the community can serve as an early diagnostic parameter of DCM and avoid delayed treatment leading to devastating consequences and disabilities.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy | – | Other: Proprioceptive Functional Analysis SystemChinese subjects aged 50 or above who have radiological evidence of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, symptomatic with Nurick Grade less than 3 will be included. |
| (2) Healthy Controls | – | Other: Proprioceptive Functional Analysis SystemChinese healthy controls aged 50 or above who have no myelopathic signs of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy with Nurick Grade less than 3 will be included. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 50 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Radiologically confirmed with Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Chinese
- Aged 50 or above
- With radiological evidence of degenerative cervical myelopathy, both symptomatic and asymptomatic
- Nurick grade less than 3
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Non-Chinese ethnicity
- Aged under 50
- without any radiological proof of cervical myelopathy
- Active problems of tuberculosis spine, lumbar spinal diseases, and other problems causing pain or deformities over the limbs that may affect their balance and movement
- Presents with extra-pyramidal or other disorders involving the cerebellum or frontal lobe of the cerebrum leading to poor balance and gait disturbance
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Proprioceptive Functional Analysis SystemProprioceptive testing and Physical Performance Tests | Other | (1) Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, (2) Healthy Controls |
Primary outcome
Modified Japanese Orthopaedics Association Scoring System for Cervical Myelopathy (mJOA)
Time frame: 15 years
mJOA is a self-reported functional questionnaire on disease severity through assessing 4 domains: 1. Upper Limb Function 2. Lower Limb Function 3. Sensory Function 4. Bladder Function mJOA has a total score of 17 and it categories DCM patient into different severity as below: 1. Mild >= 15 2. Moderate = 12-14 3. Severe < 12
2 secondary outcomes
Proprioceptive Deficits - Speed Test
Time frame: 15 years
Proprioceptive Deficits - Time Limited Test
Time frame: 15 years
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Data should not be shared with other researchers
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Karlen Ka Pui Law, M. Phil principal investigator
The University of Hong Kong
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Cervical Myelopathy, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Karlen Ka Pui Law, M. Phil (852-29740531, karlenhk@connect.com.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Modified Japanese Orthopaedics Association Scoring System for Cervical Myelopathy (mJOA) (time frame: 15 years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Jun 2026.