Ocular Motor DetectationOcular motorNCT06634576
Assessing the Reliability of Smooth Pursuit Across Various Neck Postures Using a Custom Ocular Motor Detection System
A study testing Smooth pursuit neck torsion test, Visual Analogue Scale and Craniovertebral Angle in people with Ocular Motor Detectation and Vestibular, run by Kaohsiung Medical University at 1 site in Taiwan.
Trial summary
Phase 1：System Development and Validation A custom-made eye movement detection system was developed to quantify smooth pursuit eye movements under multiplanar neck postures. The initial study established the reliability and measurement consistency of ocular motor parameters, including Gain, SPNTD, Accuracy, and… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 60 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Ocular Motor Detectation, Vestibular, Cervicogenic Dizziness
- What is being tested?
- Smooth pursuit neck torsion test, Visual Analogue Scale and Craniovertebral Angle
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTaiwan
- Study dates
- 3 Apr 2024to 31 Dec 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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 20 to 60 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 20 and 60 years.
- No history of significant neck surgeries.
- No history of corrective eye surgery.
- No skeletal muscle injuries or pain in the upper or lower limbs.
- Free from vestibular system-related disorders and neurological symptoms.
- Participants must avoid food and drink for 3 hours before the experiment.
- Participants should have 8 hours of sleep the night before the experiment.
Who cannot join
- Any participant who has undergone vision correction surgery in the last year.
- Any participant who has experienced significant head or neck trauma in the past year.
- Any participant with a history of vestibular system disorders or neurological symptoms.
- Participants who have used medications or alcohol for an extended period.
- Participants with abnormal pain in any part of the torso.
- Individuals suffering from claustrophobia.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Taiwan1 site
Kaohsiung Medical University
Kaohsiung City, Sanmin District, 807378
About this study
Phase 1：System Development and Validation A custom-made eye movement detection system was developed to quantify smooth pursuit eye movements under multiplanar neck postures. The initial study established the reliability and measurement consistency of ocular motor parameters, including Gain, SPNTD, Accuracy, and Latency, in healthy individuals. The findings demonstrated acceptable-to-excellent reliability and confirmed the feasibility of assessing ocular motor performance across multiple cervical planes.
Phase 2：Clinical Application in Mechanical Neck Pain Based on the validated system developed in Phase 1, the present study investigates multidimensional oculomotor and cervical sensorimotor function in individuals with upper mechanical neck pain (MNP). By comparing MNP patients with asymptomatic controls, the study aims to identify sensitive oculomotor biomarkers associated with cervical sensorimotor dysfunction and to explore whether multi-axis ocular motor assessment provides additional clinical information beyond conventional cervical proprioception and range-of-motion measures.
Read the detailed description
Phase 1 Reliability and Performance Evaluation of a Custom-Made Oculomotor Detection System Across Multiplanar Neck Positions
The integration of cervical proprioceptive input, visual information, and vestibular signals plays an essential role in gaze stabilization and sensorimotor control. Previous studies have suggested that alterations in cervical afferent input may influence oculomotor performance and contribute to symptoms such as dizziness and impaired visual stability. However, most conventional smooth pursuit assessments have been restricted to a single rotational axis, primarily focusing on horizontal neck torsion positions and velocity-based parameters.
To address these limitations, a custom-made oculomotor detection system was developed to quantify smooth pursuit eye movements under multiple cervical orientations. The system was designed to evaluate eye movement performance across different neck planes, including neutral posture, lateral flexion, flexion-extension, and rotational positions. Multiple ocular motor parameters were incorporated to provide a multidimensional assessment framework, including pursuit Gain, Smooth Pursuit Neck Torsion Difference (SPNTD), Accuracy, and Latency.
The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the measurement performance and reliability of the custom-made system in healthy individuals. Specifically, the study aimed to determine the consistency of ocular motor parameters across repeated measurements and to investigate whether different neck positions influence smooth pursuit tracking performance. Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), while differences among cervical orientations were analyzed using non-parametric statistical methods.
The findings of this study established the technical feasibility and reliability of the custom detection system and provided preliminary normative data regarding ocular motor performance under multiplanar cervical conditions. These results support the use of the system as a research and clinical assessment tool for evaluating cervical-ocular sensorimotor interactions.
Phase 2 Characterizing Multidimensional Oculomotor and Cervical Sensorimotor Function in Individuals With Upper Mechanical Neck Pain
Mechanical neck pain (MNP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder that may be associated with disturbances in cervical sensorimotor integration. Although conventional clinical assessments such as cervical range of motion and joint position error testing are frequently used to evaluate cervical function, these measures may not fully capture subtle impairments in cervical-ocular sensorimotor control. Increasing evidence suggests that altered cervical proprioceptive input may influence eye movement control and contribute to visual disturbances, impaired gaze stability, and symptoms related to cervical dizziness.
Building upon the validated oculomotor detection system established in the preceding reliability study, the present investigation aims to explore multidimensional ocular motor function in individuals with upper mechanical neck pain. Unlike conventional smooth pursuit neck torsion assessments that primarily examine a single rotational plane, this study utilizes a multi-axis assessment framework to evaluate ocular motor performance across multiple cervical orientations. In addition to velocity-based measurements, spatial and temporal parameters are incorporated to provide a comprehensive characterization of oculomotor behavior.
Participants with upper mechanical neck pain and asymptomatic controls undergo assessments of cervical sensorimotor function, including cervical range of motion and joint position error testing, followed by ocular motor evaluations performed under seven different neck positions. Oculomotor performance is quantified using pursuit Gain, Smooth Pursuit Neck Torsion Difference (SPNTD), Angular Error, Pursuit Latency, and temporal synchronization parameters derived from cross-correlation analyses. These outcome measures are intended to capture complementary aspects of ocular motor control, including velocity matching, spatial tracking accuracy, torsion-related modulation, and temporal coordination.
The primary objective of this study is to identify ocular motor parameters that may distinguish individuals with upper mechanical neck pain from asymptomatic controls and to determine whether multidimensional oculomotor assessment provides additional information beyond conventional cervical measures. The study further seeks to investigate the influence of cervical orientation on ocular motor performance and to characterize potential alterations in cervical-ocular sensorimotor integration associated with mechanical neck pain.
Findings from this study are expected to contribute to a better understanding of cervical sensorimotor dysfunction and may facilitate the development of clinically useful biomarkers for identifying subtle oculomotor abnormalities in individuals with neck pain. Furthermore, the results may provide a foundation for future investigations involving patients with cervicogenic dizziness and other disorders characterized by impaired cervical-ocular sensorimotor control.
- Being tested
- Smooth pursuit neck torsion test, Visual Analogue Scale, Craniovertebral Angle, Joint Position Error
- Keywords
- Oculomotor system, Vestibular, cervicogenic dizziness, Ocular motor detectation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Smooth pursuit neck torsion testDevice
Used custom-made system to stimulate the procedure of smooth pursuit neck torsion test in the current study, the multiple axis motion platform can adjust the neck postures to three different neck motion planes, seven different neck postures.
Visual Analogue ScaleOther
A 10-cm visual analogue scale used to assess pain intensity during standardized palpation of the upper cervical spine (C1-C3) and suboccipital region. Recorded for average, right, and left sides.
Craniovertebral AngleDevice
A measure of forward head posture; the angle formed between a horizontal line and a line connecting the tragus of the ear to the spinous process of C7.
Joint Position ErrorDevice
Assessed in sitting using a laser-pointer repositioning task with a target 90 cm in front of the participant at eye level. Participants actively moved their head in a randomized direction and then attempted to return to the neutral (target) position without visual feedback. Repositioning error was defined as the absolute angular deviation of the laser point from the target center, expressed in degrees. Six trials were performed per direction and averaged.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Health population | Experimental | Used custom-made ocular motor system to adjust the neck postures of participants, to examine the reliability of data and compared the pursuit ability in three different neck motion planes, seven different neck postures. Receives: Device: Smooth pursuit neck torsion test; Other: Visual Analogue Scale; Device: Craniovertebral Angle; Device: Joint Position Error |
| Upper Mechanical Neck Pain | Experimental | Participants with upper mechanical neck pain will undergo multidimensional cervical sensorimotor and oculomotor assessments. Evaluations include cervical range of motion, joint position error testing, and smooth pursuit eye movement tasks performed under multiple neck orientations to investigate cervical-ocular sensorimotor function Receives: Device: Smooth pursuit neck torsion test; Other: Visual Analogue Scale; Device: Craniovertebral Angle; Device: Joint Position Error |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Analyzied the reliability of custom-made ocular motor detectation system
The custom-made system would output four parameters in this study. Used Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to examine the reliability of pursuit parameters.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of research at 1 day.
Secondary outcomes (1)
Examine the pursuit ability in seven different neck postures.
A custom-made system would change the neck posture in seven different neck postures. Used nonparametric(Friedman test) to analyze the pursuit ability in seven different neck postures, if the results were significant(p-value less than 0.05), used Wilcoxon sign rank to be the posthoc test.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 1 day
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Oct 2024
- Study start3 Apr 2024
- Primary completion31 Dec 2025
- Study completion31 Dec 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Ocular Motor DetectationStudies 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Screening
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Model description
- Inclusion Criteria 1. Age 20-60 years. 2. Healthy adults with normal or corrected-to-normal vision. 3. No history of major neck surgery. 4. No vestibular or neurological disorders. 5. Able to provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria 1. Vision correction surgery within the previous year. 2. Significant head or neck trauma within the previous year. 3. Vestibular, neurological, or balance disorders. 4. Medication or alcohol use affecting sensorimotor performance. 5. Current musculoskeletal pain or injury. 6. Claustrophobia.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Kaohsiung Medical University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan, National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jeng-Heng Lin, Kaohsiung Medical University
- Investigators
- Guo Lan-Yuen Guo, Lan-Yuen, Professor, Phd, Study chair, Kaohsiung Medical University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06634576
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KMUHIRB-F(II)-20210114
- Acronym
- Ocular motor
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Sep 2024
- Last updated
- 28 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Individual information(e.g age, born, research date) Personal pursuit ability results in the current study, like pursuit synchronized in each neck posture, the difference of pursuit synchronized in each neck motion plane, pursuit accuracy, potential pursuit reaction time.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Assessing the Reliability of Smooth Pursuit Across Various Neck Postures Using a Custom Ocular Motor Detection System
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06634576
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Ocular motor / KMUHIRB-F(II)-20210114
- Keywords
- Oculomotor system, Vestibular, cervicogenic dizziness, Ocular motor detectation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Kaohsiung Medical UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan, National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan
- Study start
- 3 Apr 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 10 Oct 2024 (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.
Phase 1：System Development and Validation A custom-made eye movement detection system was developed to quantify smooth pursuit eye movements under multiplanar neck postures. The initial study established the reliability and measurement consistency of ocular motor parameters, including Gain, SPNTD, Accuracy, and Latency, in healthy individuals. The findings demonstrated acceptable-to-excellent reliability and confirmed the feasibility of assessing ocular motor performance across multiple cervical planes.
Phase 2：Clinical Application in Mechanical Neck Pain Based on the validated system developed in Phase 1, the present study investigates multidimensional oculomotor and cervical sensorimotor function in individuals with upper mechanical neck pain (MNP). By comparing MNP patients with asymptomatic controls, the study aims to identify sensitive oculomotor biomarkers associated with cervical sensorimotor dysfunction and to explore whether multi-axis ocular motor assessment provides additional clinical information beyond conventional cervical proprioception and range-of-motion measures.
Detailed description
Phase 1 Reliability and Performance Evaluation of a Custom-Made Oculomotor Detection System Across Multiplanar Neck Positions
The integration of cervical proprioceptive input, visual information, and vestibular signals plays an essential role in gaze stabilization and sensorimotor control. Previous studies have suggested that alterations in cervical afferent input may influence oculomotor performance and contribute to symptoms such as dizziness and impaired visual stability. However, most conventional smooth pursuit assessments have been restricted to a single rotational axis, primarily focusing on horizontal neck torsion positions and velocity-based parameters.
To address these limitations, a custom-made oculomotor detection system was developed to quantify smooth pursuit eye movements under multiple cervical orientations. The system was designed to evaluate eye movement performance across different neck planes, including neutral posture, lateral flexion, flexion-extension, and rotational positions. Multiple ocular motor parameters were incorporated to provide a multidimensional assessment framework, including pursuit Gain, Smooth Pursuit Neck Torsion Difference (SPNTD), Accuracy, and Latency.
The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the measurement performance and reliability of the custom-made system in healthy individuals. Specifically, the study aimed to determine the consistency of ocular motor parameters across repeated measurements and to investigate whether different neck positions influence smooth pursuit tracking performance. Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), while differences among cervical orientations were analyzed using non-parametric statistical methods.
The findings of this study established the technical feasibility and reliability of the custom detection system and provided preliminary normative data regarding ocular motor performance under multiplanar cervical conditions. These results support the use of the system as a research and clinical assessment tool for evaluating cervical-ocular sensorimotor interactions.
Phase 2 Characterizing Multidimensional Oculomotor and Cervical Sensorimotor Function in Individuals With Upper Mechanical Neck Pain
Mechanical neck pain (MNP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder that may be associated with disturbances in cervical sensorimotor integration. Although conventional clinical assessments such as cervical range of motion and joint position error testing are frequently used to evaluate cervical function, these measures may not fully capture subtle impairments in cervical-ocular sensorimotor control. Increasing evidence suggests that altered cervical proprioceptive input may influence eye movement control and contribute to visual disturbances, impaired gaze stability, and symptoms related to cervical dizziness.
Building upon the validated oculomotor detection system established in the preceding reliability study, the present investigation aims to explore multidimensional ocular motor function in individuals with upper mechanical neck pain. Unlike conventional smooth pursuit neck torsion assessments that primarily examine a single rotational plane, this study utilizes a multi-axis assessment framework to evaluate ocular motor performance across multiple cervical orientations. In addition to velocity-based measurements, spatial and temporal parameters are incorporated to provide a comprehensive characterization of oculomotor behavior.
Participants with upper mechanical neck pain and asymptomatic controls undergo assessments of cervical sensorimotor function, including cervical range of motion and joint position error testing, followed by ocular motor evaluations performed under seven different neck positions. Oculomotor performance is quantified using pursuit Gain, Smooth Pursuit Neck Torsion Difference (SPNTD), Angular Error, Pursuit Latency, and temporal synchronization parameters derived from cross-correlation analyses. These outcome measures are intended to capture complementary aspects of ocular motor control, including velocity matching, spatial tracking accuracy, torsion-related modulation, and temporal coordination.
The primary objective of this study is to identify ocular motor parameters that may distinguish individuals with upper mechanical neck pain from asymptomatic controls and to determine whether multidimensional oculomotor assessment provides additional information beyond conventional cervical measures. The study further seeks to investigate the influence of cervical orientation on ocular motor performance and to characterize potential alterations in cervical-ocular sensorimotor integration associated with mechanical neck pain.
Findings from this study are expected to contribute to a better understanding of cervical sensorimotor dysfunction and may facilitate the development of clinically useful biomarkers for identifying subtle oculomotor abnormalities in individuals with neck pain. Furthermore, the results may provide a foundation for future investigations involving patients with cervicogenic dizziness and other disorders characterized by impaired cervical-ocular sensorimotor control.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Screening
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Inclusion Criteria 1. Age 20-60 years. 2. Healthy adults with normal or corrected-to-normal vision. 3. No history of major neck surgery. 4. No vestibular or neurological disorders. 5. Able to provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria 1. Vision correction surgery within the previous year. 2. Significant head or neck trauma within the previous year. 3. Vestibular, neurological, or balance disorders. 4. Medication or alcohol use affecting sensorimotor performance. 5. Current musculoskeletal pain or injury. 6. Claustrophobia.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Health population | Experimental | Device: Smooth pursuit neck torsion test, Other: Visual Analogue Scale, Device: Craniovertebral Angle, Device: Joint Position ErrorUsed custom-made ocular motor system to adjust the neck postures of participants, to examine the reliability of data and compared the pursuit ability in three different neck motion planes, seven different neck postures. |
| Upper Mechanical Neck Pain | Experimental | Device: Smooth pursuit neck torsion test, Other: Visual Analogue Scale, Device: Craniovertebral Angle, Device: Joint Position ErrorParticipants with upper mechanical neck pain will undergo multidimensional cervical sensorimotor and oculomotor assessments. Evaluations include cervical range of motion, joint position error testing, and smooth pursuit eye movement tasks performed under multiple neck orientations to investigate cervical-ocular sensorimotor function |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Age between 20 and 60 years.
- No history of significant neck surgeries.
- No history of corrective eye surgery.
- No skeletal muscle injuries or pain in the upper or lower limbs.
- Free from vestibular system-related disorders and neurological symptoms.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Any participant who has undergone vision correction surgery in the last year.
- Any participant who has experienced significant head or neck trauma in the past year.
- Any participant with a history of vestibular system disorders or neurological symptoms.
- Participants who have used medications or alcohol for an extended period.
- Participants with abnormal pain in any part of the torso.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth pursuit neck torsion testUsed custom-made system to stimulate the procedure of smooth pursuit neck torsion test in the current study, the multiple axis motion platform can adjust the neck postures to three different neck motion planes, seven different neck postures. | Device | Health population, Upper Mechanical Neck Pain |
| Visual Analogue ScaleA 10-cm visual analogue scale used to assess pain intensity during standardized palpation of the upper cervical spine (C1-C3) and suboccipital region. Recorded for average, right, and left sides. | Other | Health population, Upper Mechanical Neck Pain |
| Craniovertebral AngleA measure of forward head posture; the angle formed between a horizontal line and a line connecting the tragus of the ear to the spinous process of C7. | Device | Health population, Upper Mechanical Neck Pain |
| Joint Position ErrorAssessed in sitting using a laser-pointer repositioning task with a target 90 cm in front of the participant at eye level. Participants actively moved their head in a randomized direction and then attempted to return to the neutral (target) position without visual feedback. Repositioning error was defined as the absolute angular deviation of the laser point from the target center, expressed in degrees. Six trials were performed per direction and averaged. | Device | Health population, Upper Mechanical Neck Pain |
Primary outcome
Analyzied the reliability of custom-made ocular motor detectation system
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of research at 1 day.
The custom-made system would output four parameters in this study. Used Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to examine the reliability of pursuit parameters.
1 secondary outcome
Examine the pursuit ability in seven different neck postures.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 1 day
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Individual information(e.g age, born, research date) Personal pursuit ability results in the current study, like pursuit synchronized in each neck posture, the difference of pursuit synchronized in each neck motion plane, pursuit accuracy, potential pursuit reaction time.
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.
Guo Lan-Yuen Guo, Lan-Yuen, Professor, Phd study chair
Kaohsiung Medical University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Smooth pursuit neck torsion test, Visual Analogue Scale and Craniovertebral Angle in people with Ocular Motor Detectation and Vestibular, run by Kaohsiung Medical University at 1 site in Taiwan.
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 7 inclusion and 6 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Aug 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 Taiwan. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Analyzied the reliability of custom-made ocular motor detectation system (time frame: From enrollment to the end of research at 1 day.). 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 28 Aug 2026.