# STUDY OF POSTURAL STABILITY IN SUBJECTS WITH MYELOPATHY USING A PORTABLE VIRTUAL REALITY BALANCE PROTOCOL.

> **NIH VA I21** · SYRACUSE VA  MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · —

## Abstract

Veterans are at heightened risk of developing cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) from rigors of
military service. Diagnosis of CSM involves a set of clinical findings and is confirmed by imaging the spine.
 Gait impairment and disturbances of stance control are hallmarks of CSM and are a consequence of
abnormalities in proprioception due to dorsal column tract damage of the spine. Currently, gait and balance
deficits rely on clinical level assessments and judgement for detection. An objective measure of
posturography has the benefit of: a) quantifying balance-related disability in CSM, b)
facilitating structure-functional assessments in CSM, and c) quantifying the degree surgical
interventions affect posturography and recovery of function in CSM.
 Objective and sensitive means for assessing balance and posturography exist, but are not routinely
incorporated in diagnosis or functional tracking of progress after interventions such as surgery. A barrier may
be accessibility of posturography and ease of assessments. The Virtual Environment TBI Screen (VETS) was
devised using Army Rapid Innovation Development funding to objectively assess balance and posturography in
a cost effective, but sensitive manner. VETS involves virtual environments and computerized posturography
and is proving to be a sensitive system facilitating diagnosis, treatment, and mitigation of balance dysfunction
associated with mTBI.
 Our working hypothesis is VETS testing will enhance clinical judgements regarding CSM. The SPiRE is
designed to provide data critical to a more extensive program of research incorporating posturography into
treatment and rehabilitation of CSM.
 First, a limited comparative study of standing balance will be conducted of 20 veterans being evaluated for
cervical spine surgery to treat CSM and 20 otherwise healthy veterans. Second, posturography of the veterans
undergoing surgery to treat CSM will be tracked during their scheduled follow up visits to determine the degree
VETS scores are affected by surgery and to track recovery from CSM.
 Patients in the CSM group will be selected based on clinical criteria. Veterans in the control group will be
recruited from the Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center (SVAMC) and surrounding community.
 For VETS testing, the veteran will stand directly on a firm surface or foam pad placed on top of a Wii
Balance Board (WBB). There are six conditions manipulating surface (firm or foam surface) and visual input
(eyes open viewing a static scene, eyes closed, and eyes open viewing a dynamic visual scene). The primary
measure is the center of pressure (COP) sway area. These 6 conditions allow for an assessment of generalized
vs specific deficits in COP sway area considering proprioception, dependence of visual input and visuo-
proprioceptive integration.
 AIM 1A: Determine whether and to what degree balance is altered in CSM. The degree of COP sway will be
compared between CSM and controls in the six conditions comprisi...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9852894
- **Project number:** 5I21RX002882-02
- **Recipient organization:** SYRACUSE VA  MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** RICHARD J SERVATIUS
- **Activity code:** I21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-02-01 → 2021-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9852894

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9852894, STUDY OF POSTURAL STABILITY IN SUBJECTS WITH MYELOPATHY USING A PORTABLE VIRTUAL REALITY BALANCE PROTOCOL. (5I21RX002882-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9852894. Licensed CC0.

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