AutismNCT06152510
Static Balance in Children With Autism vs. Neurotypical Peers
An observational study of Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by Istituto per la Ricerca e l'Innovazione Biomedica at 1 site in Italy.
Trial summary
The Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System (VRRS) is an innovative and sophisticated technology, aimed to generate immersive and interactive settings intended for therapeutic and evaluative objectives. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 4 to 13 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteItaly
- Study dates
- 1 Dec 2023to 30 Apr 2024
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 4 to 13 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Study population: Thirty children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and 30 typically developing (TD) children will participate in the study. The children with ASD will be recruited and tested at the clinical facilities of the Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation of the National Research Council of Italy (IRIB-CNR) in Messina. To be included in the study the child needs to have an ASD diagnosis based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria from a licensed clinical child neuropsychiatrist but no established intellectual disability diagnosis. The TD children will recruit through advertisements in schools located close to the Institute. Informed consent will obtain from all subjects involved in the study.
Who may be able to join
- Diagnosis of Autism; QI ≥ 75
Who cannot join
- Motor deficits due to another clinical condition
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Italy1 site
Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB) - National Research Council (CNR)
Messina, 98164
About this study
Official title: Comparative Study of Static Balance Abilities in Children With Autism and Neurotypical Peers
The Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System (VRRS) is an innovative and sophisticated technology, aimed to generate immersive and interactive settings intended for therapeutic and evaluative objectives. Through the utilization of virtual reality technology, it constructs diverse scenarios, tasks, and activities in a controlled digital environment, fostering engagement. Primarily crafted for rehabilitation purposes, the VRRS features adaptable programs addressing various therapeutic requirements, encompassing motor skill enhancement, cognitive challenges, and assessments related to balance.Understanding the nuanced motor abilities in children, particularly those with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism, is a critical area of research in pediatric rehabilitation. The significance of this research lies in comprehending the specific balance challenges experienced by children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a population often noted for motor coordination and balance difficulties. Because VRRS offers a controlled and engaging environment, this study seeks to provide a detailed analysis of static balance abilities in capabilities in children diagnosed with ASD in comparison to typically developing (TD) children. The study also wants to explore the efficacy of VRRS as an assessment tool for pediatric balance evaluations.The primary objective of this study is to highlight the distinctions in postural control between ASD and TD children, utilizing an objective quantification tool to delineate the differences between the two groups. This will be achieved through a group comparison study involving two distinct cohorts. The first group will comprise 30 school-aged children with ASD, while the second group will consist of 30 TD school-aged children. To evaluate postural control, both groups will participate in an activity utilizing the VRRS in conjunction with a stabilometric balance platform. During the assessment task, participants will stand on the balance platform with their eyes open, focusing on a fixed point displayed on the VRRS screen for a duration of one minute. This process will be repeated three times for each participant. The combined use of VRRS and the stabilometric balance platform aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of postural control abilities in both groups, allowing for the observation and measurement of potential differences in stability and balance performance between children with ASD and their neurotypical counterparts.
- Conditions
- Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Being tested
- Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System
- Keywords
- Autism, virtual reality, virtual reality rehabilitation system, postural control
- Medical subject headings
- Autistic Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Virtual Reality Rehabilitation SystemOther
In a single session to evaluate postural control, both children with ASD and typically developing peers will participate in an activity utilizing the Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System (VRRS) in conjunction with a stabilometric balance platform. During the assessment task, participants will stand on the balance platform with their eyes open, focusing on a fixed point displayed on the VRRS screen for a duration of one minute. This process will be repeated three times for each participant. The combined use of VRRS and the stabilometric balance platform aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of postural control abilities in both groups, allowing for the observation and measurement of potential differences in stability and balance performance between children with ASD and their neurotypical counterparts.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Children with autism spectrum condition | Thirty children with autism spectrum condition and with medium-high functioning, aged 4 to 13 years, IQ > 75, in the absence of motor deficits due to another clinical condition. Receives: Other: Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System | |
| Children with typical development | Thirty children with typical development aged 4 to 13 years, IQ > 75, in the absence of motor deficits due to clinical condition. Receives: Other: Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Centre of Pressure (COP) displacement
The Virtual Reality Rehabilitation system (VRRS; Khymeia, Italy) is an innovative system based on the concept of augmented feedback. It consists of devices for clinical use and a tablet for home-based telerehabilitation, which can be remotely managed. Different peripherals can be connected via USB to the VRRS, including a stabilometric balance platform. It is a force plate (80 ×55 cm) able to detect forces in the z-direction and the Centre of Pressure (COP) displacement in millimeter (mm). The COP displacement is the distance and direction that COP moves from a reference point or position, in the anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) direction, thanks to the four load cells integrated into the balance platform. Moreover, a dedicated software can be used to calibrate the balance platform which will allow the estimation of static postural data. After each measurement, a report containing a summary of the data can be exported through the dedicated software.
Measured: The test needs approximately 3 minutes per child
Centre of Pressure (COP) velocity
The Virtual Reality Rehabilitation system (VRRS; Khymeia, Italy) is an innovative system based on the concept of augmented feedback. It consists of devices for clinical use and a tablet for home-based telerehabilitation, which can be remotely managed. Different peripherals can be connected via USB to the VRRS, including a stabilometric balance platform. It is a force plate (80 ×55 cm) able to detect Centre of Pressure (COP) velocity in millimeter per second (mm/s), a sensitive measure to detect changes in postural control.
Measured: The test needs approximately 3 minutes per child
Centre of Pressure (COP) sway area
The Virtual Reality Rehabilitation system (VRRS; Khymeia, Italy) is an innovative system based on the concept of augmented feedback. It consists of devices for clinical use and a tablet for home-based telerehabilitation, which can be remotely managed. Different peripherals can be connected via USB to the VRRS, including a stabilometric balance platform. It is a force plate (80 ×55 cm) able to detect the Centre of Pressure (COP) sway area in square millimeter per second (mm2 /s). Sway area is the area enclosed by the COP trajectory per unit time.
Measured: The test needs approximately 3 minutes per child
Movement Assessment Battery for Children - Second Edition (MABC-2)
The Movement Assessment Battery for Children - Second Edition (MABC-2) is an assessment test specifically developed for children from 3 to 16 years with motor function impairment. The tasks are divided by age range and organized into three sections: manual dexterity, aiming and catching and balance. Scores are provided in standard scores and percentiles and are interpreted by using a traffic light system: green light (scores above 15 percentile), meaning typical motor performances; yellow light (scores between 5 and 15 percentile), indicating a risk for motor impairment; red light (scores below 5 percentile), identifying a significant motor function impairment.
Measured: The test needs approximately 40 minutes.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Nov 2023
- Study start1 Dec 2023 (estimated)
- Primary completion28 Feb 2024 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Apr 2024 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for AutismStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istituto per la Ricerca e l'Innovazione Biomedica
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Messina, Italy
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Flavia Marino, Istituto per la Ricerca e l'Innovazione Biomedica
- Investigators
- Flavia Marino, Principal investigator, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB) - National Research Council (CNR)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06152510
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CNR-IRIB-PRO-2023-006
- Status last verified
- Nov 2023
- First submitted
- 21 Nov 2023
- Last updated
- 30 Nov 2023
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Beani E, Filogna S, Martini G, Barzacchi V, Ferrari A, Guidi E, Menici V, Cioni G, Sgandurra G. Application of Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System for the assessment of postural control while standing in typical children and peers with neurodevelopmental disorders. Gait Posture. 2022 Feb;92:364-370. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.12.008. Epub 2021 Dec 10.
PubMed 34923256Kaur M, M Srinivasan S, N Bhat A. Comparing motor performance, praxis, coordination, and interpersonal synchrony between children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Res Dev Disabil. 2018 Jan;72:79-95. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.10.025. Epub 2017 Nov 6.
PubMed 29121516Martini G, Beani E, Filogna S, Menici V, Cioni G, Battini R, Sgandurra G. New Technological Approach for the Evaluation of Postural Control Abilities in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. Children (Basel). 2022 Jun 26;9(7):957. doi: 10.3390/children9070957.
PubMed 35883941
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Nov 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Study of Static Balance Abilities in Children With Autism and Neurotypical Peers
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06152510
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CNR-IRIB-PRO-2023-006
- Conditions
- Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Keywords
- Autism, virtual reality, virtual reality rehabilitation system, postural control
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Istituto per la Ricerca e l'Innovazione BiomedicaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Messina, Italy
- Study start
- 1 Dec 2023 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 28 Feb 2024 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Apr 2024 (estimated)
- First posted
- 30 Nov 2023 (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.
The Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System (VRRS) is an innovative and sophisticated technology, aimed to generate immersive and interactive settings intended for therapeutic and evaluative objectives. Through the utilization of virtual reality technology, it constructs diverse scenarios, tasks, and activities in a controlled digital environment, fostering engagement. Primarily crafted for rehabilitation purposes, the VRRS features adaptable programs addressing various therapeutic requirements, encompassing motor skill enhancement, cognitive challenges, and assessments related to balance.Understanding the nuanced motor abilities in children, particularly those with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism, is a critical area of research in pediatric rehabilitation. The significance of this research lies in comprehending the specific balance challenges experienced by children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a population often noted for motor coordination and balance difficulties. Because VRRS offers a controlled and engaging environment, this study seeks to provide a detailed analysis of static balance abilities in capabilities in children diagnosed with ASD in comparison to typically developing (TD) children. The study also wants to explore the efficacy of VRRS as an assessment tool for pediatric balance evaluations.The primary objective of this study is to highlight the distinctions in postural control between ASD and TD children, utilizing an objective quantification tool to delineate the differences between the two groups. This will be achieved through a group comparison study involving two distinct cohorts. The first group will comprise 30 school-aged children with ASD, while the second group will consist of 30 TD school-aged children. To evaluate postural control, both groups will participate in an activity utilizing the VRRS in conjunction with a stabilometric balance platform. During the assessment task, participants will stand on the balance platform with their eyes open, focusing on a fixed point displayed on the VRRS screen for a duration of one minute. This process will be repeated three times for each participant. The combined use of VRRS and the stabilometric balance platform aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of postural control abilities in both groups, allowing for the observation and measurement of potential differences in stability and balance performance between children with ASD and their neurotypical counterparts.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Children with autism spectrum condition | – | Other: Virtual Reality Rehabilitation SystemThirty children with autism spectrum condition and with medium-high functioning, aged 4 to 13 years, IQ > 75, in the absence of motor deficits due to another clinical condition. |
| Children with typical development | – | Other: Virtual Reality Rehabilitation SystemThirty children with typical development aged 4 to 13 years, IQ > 75, in the absence of motor deficits due to clinical condition. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 4 to 13 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
- Study population
- Thirty children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and 30 typically developing (TD) children will participate in the study. The children with ASD will be recruited and tested at the clinical facilities of the Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation of the National Research Council of Italy (IRIB-CNR) in Messina. To be included in the study the child needs to have an ASD diagnosis based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria from a licensed clinical child neuropsychiatrist but no established intellectual disability diagnosis. The TD children will recruit through advertisements in schools located close to the Institute. Informed consent will obtain from all subjects involved in the study.
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Diagnosis of Autism; QI ≥ 75
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Motor deficits due to another clinical condition
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Reality Rehabilitation SystemIn a single session to evaluate postural control, both children with ASD and typically developing peers will participate in an activity utilizing the Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System (VRRS) in conjunction with a stabilometric balance platform. During the assessment task, participants will stand on the balance platform with their eyes open, focusing on a fixed point displayed on the VRRS screen for a duration of one minute. This process will be repeated three times for each participant. The combined use of VRRS and the stabilometric balance platform aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of postural control abilities in both groups, allowing for the observation and measurement of potential differences in stability and balance performance between children with ASD and their neurotypical counterparts. | Other | Children with autism spectrum condition, Children with typical development |
Primary outcome
Centre of Pressure (COP) displacement
Time frame: The test needs approximately 3 minutes per child
The Virtual Reality Rehabilitation system (VRRS; Khymeia, Italy) is an innovative system based on the concept of augmented feedback. It consists of devices for clinical use and a tablet for home-based telerehabilitation, which can be remotely managed. Different peripherals can be connected via USB to the VRRS, including a stabilometric balance platform. It is a force plate (80 ×55 cm) able to detect forces in the z-direction and the Centre of Pressure (COP) displacement in millimeter (mm). The COP displacement is the distance and direction that COP moves from a reference point or position, in the anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) direction, thanks to the four load cells integrated into the balance platform. Moreover, a dedicated software can be used to calibrate the balance platform which will allow the estimation of static postural data. After each measurement, a report containing a summary of the data can be exported through the dedicated software.
Centre of Pressure (COP) velocity
Time frame: The test needs approximately 3 minutes per child
The Virtual Reality Rehabilitation system (VRRS; Khymeia, Italy) is an innovative system based on the concept of augmented feedback. It consists of devices for clinical use and a tablet for home-based telerehabilitation, which can be remotely managed. Different peripherals can be connected via USB to the VRRS, including a stabilometric balance platform. It is a force plate (80 ×55 cm) able to detect Centre of Pressure (COP) velocity in millimeter per second (mm/s), a sensitive measure to detect changes in postural control.
Centre of Pressure (COP) sway area
Time frame: The test needs approximately 3 minutes per child
The Virtual Reality Rehabilitation system (VRRS; Khymeia, Italy) is an innovative system based on the concept of augmented feedback. It consists of devices for clinical use and a tablet for home-based telerehabilitation, which can be remotely managed. Different peripherals can be connected via USB to the VRRS, including a stabilometric balance platform. It is a force plate (80 ×55 cm) able to detect the Centre of Pressure (COP) sway area in square millimeter per second (mm2 /s). Sway area is the area enclosed by the COP trajectory per unit time.
Movement Assessment Battery for Children - Second Edition (MABC-2)
Time frame: The test needs approximately 40 minutes.
The Movement Assessment Battery for Children - Second Edition (MABC-2) is an assessment test specifically developed for children from 3 to 16 years with motor function impairment. The tasks are divided by age range and organized into three sections: manual dexterity, aiming and catching and balance. Scores are provided in standard scores and percentiles and are interpreted by using a traffic light system: green light (scores above 15 percentile), meaning typical motor performances; yellow light (scores between 5 and 15 percentile), indicating a risk for motor impairment; red light (scores below 5 percentile), identifying a significant motor function impairment.
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 Nov 2023.
- Background: PubMed 34923256Beani E, Filogna S, Martini G, Barzacchi V, Ferrari A, Guidi E, Menici V, Cioni G, Sgandurra G. Application of Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System for the assessment of postural control while standing in typical children and peers with neurodevelopmental disorders. Gait Posture. 2022 Feb;92:364-370. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.12.008. Epub 2021 Dec 10.
- Background: PubMed 29121516Kaur M, M Srinivasan S, N Bhat A. Comparing motor performance, praxis, coordination, and interpersonal synchrony between children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Res Dev Disabil. 2018 Jan;72:79-95. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.10.025. Epub 2017 Nov 6.
- Background: PubMed 35883941Martini G, Beani E, Filogna S, Menici V, Cioni G, Battini R, Sgandurra G. New Technological Approach for the Evaluation of Postural Control Abilities in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. Children (Basel). 2022 Jun 26;9(7):957. doi: 10.3390/children9070957.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Autism
RecruitingPhase 1
Cannabidiol (CBD) in Adults With ASD
Autism Spectrum Disorder
RecruitingPhase 3
A Study to Evaluate the Long-term Safety and Tolerability of Xanomeline and Trospium Chloride for the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Schizophrenia, Autism-Related Irritability
Not yet recruiting
Sensory-integration Therapy Verses Augumented Reality-based Training in ASD
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Recruiting
Cumulative and Booster Effects of Multisession Prefrontal tDCS in ASD Adolescents
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Not yet recruiting
"Family Resilience And Mind-body Enhancement" (FRAME): A Randomised Controlled Trial
Autism
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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Flavia Marino principal investigator
Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB) - National Research Council (CNR)
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 Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by Istituto per la Ricerca e l'Innovazione Biomedica at 1 site in Italy.
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 1 inclusion and 1 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: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Nov 2023. 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 Italy. 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?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Chiara Failla (+393921985644, chiara.failla@irib.cnr.it), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Centre of Pressure (COP) displacement (time frame: The test needs approximately 3 minutes per child). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06152510, which also lists 3 linked publications.
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 30 Nov 2023.