Cervical MyelopathyNCT07636135
Timing of Rehabilitation Following Cervical Spinal Surgery in Degenerative Myelopathy
A study testing Physical Therapy in people with Cervical Myelopathy, run by University of Alberta at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether starting rehabilitation earlier after surgery can improve recovery and is feasible and acceptable for adults with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) undergoing cervical spine surgery. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Cervical Myelopathy
- What is being tested?
- Physical Therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 1 Jul 2026to 31 Dec 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- adult (>18 years of age) with diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy, within 2 weeks of spinal decompression surgery
- plan to be discharged home from acute care (i.e., not admitted to another facility for post-operative rehabilitation)
- able to stand with a maximum of one-person assist (+/- use of gait aid)
- persistent functional impairment in lower extremity strength, balance, coordination, and/or gait
- ability to attend an 8-week in-person rehabilitation program in Edmonton, Alberta
Who cannot join
- discharge from acute care facility > 2 weeks post-operative
- intra-operative or early post-operative complication delaying discharge or precluding participation in early rehabilitation
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Canada1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, T6G2G4
Research Assistant, 780-492-4858, clhurd@ualberta.ca
About this study
Official title: Feasibility of Early Post-operative Rehabilitation Following Cervical Spinal Surgery in Degenerative Myelopathy
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether starting rehabilitation earlier after surgery can improve recovery and is feasible and acceptable for adults with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) undergoing cervical spine surgery. The main question it aims to answer is:
Does starting rehabilitation earlier improve walking, balance, physical activity, quality of life, and nervous system function after surgery?
Read more
Researchers will compare participants who begin rehabilitation two weeks after surgery with participants who begin rehabilitation six weeks after surgery to see if earlier rehabilitation leads to better recovery outcomes and participation.
Participants will:
Be randomly assigned to begin rehabilitation either two weeks or six weeks after surgery.
Attend physical therapy sessions twice per week for eight weeks focused on strength, balance, and walking.
Complete assessments of walking ability, balance, physical activity, quality of life, and nervous system function over several months after surgery.
Provide feedback about their experience with the rehabilitation program, including satisfaction and any side effects or challenges related to participation.
- Conditions
- Cervical Myelopathy
- Being tested
- Physical Therapy
- Keywords
- physical therapy, post-operative rehabilitation, walking, degenerative cervical myelopathy, spinal cord injury
- Medical subject headings
- Spinal Cord Injuries
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Physical TherapyBehavioural
Active, task-specific physical therapy to enhance balance, walking, and strength
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Usual Care Rehabilitation | Active comparator | Participants will begin post-operative rehabilitation 6 weeks following their cervical spine surgery Receives: Behavioral: Physical Therapy |
| Early Rehabilitation | Experimental | Participants will begin post-operative rehabilitation 2 weeks following their cervical spine surgery Receives: Behavioral: Physical Therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change from Baseline in the Ten Metre Walk Test
Time to walk ten metres; lower times indicate faster walking speed
Measured: Baseline and End Rehabilitation (8 weeks following Baseline)
Secondary outcomes (7)
Change from Baseline in the Six Minute Walk Test
Distance walked in six minutes; longer distances indicate greater walking endurance
Measured: Baseline and End Rehabilitation (8 weeks following Baseline)
Change from Baseline in the Timed Up and Go
Time taken to stand, walk 3 metres and return to sitting position; longer time indicates balance and mobility impairments
Measured: Baseline and End Rehabilitation (8 weeks following Baseline)
Change from Baseline in the Berg Balance Scale
Standardized test that includes 14 balance tasks, with scores ranging from 0 to 56; lower scores indicate balance impairment
Measured: Baseline and End Rehabilitation (8 weeks following Baseline)
Change from Baseline on the 36-item Short Form Survey
Survey measuring health-related quality of life, with scores ranging from 0 to 100; higher scores indicate better health status
Measured: Baseline and End Rehabilitation (8 weeks following Baseline)
Change from Admission to Study on the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scale
Score to evaluate the severity of degenerative cervical myelopathy, with scores ranging from 0 to 18; higher scores indicate more mild myelopathy
Measured: Study Admission and End of Study (12 weeks)
Change from Baseline in Motor-Evoked Potentials
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) will be used and electromyography (EMG) will be recorded in lower extremity muscles; size of motor-evoked potentials will be measured
Measured: Baseline and End Rehabilitation (8 weeks following Baseline)
Change from Baseline in Hoffman Reflexes
Hoffman reflexes will be elicited in the soleus muscle and electromyography (EMG) will be recorded; H:M ratios and rate-dependent depression will be measured.
Measured: Baseline and End Rehabilitation (8 weeks following Baseline)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Jun 2026
- Study start1 Jul 2026
- Primary completion31 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2027 (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 University of AlbertaThe 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Alberta
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Alberta Spine Foundation
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07636135
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Pro00161798
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 27 May 2026
- Last updated
- 7 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Feasibility of Early Post-operative Rehabilitation Following Cervical Spinal Surgery in Degenerative Myelopathy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07636135
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Pro00161798
- Conditions
- Cervical Myelopathy
- Keywords
- physical therapy, post-operative rehabilitation, walking, degenerative cervical myelopathy, spinal cord injury
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of AlbertaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Alberta Spine Foundation
- Study start
- 1 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Jun 2026 (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 goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether starting rehabilitation earlier after surgery can improve recovery and is feasible and acceptable for adults with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) undergoing cervical spine surgery. The main question it aims to answer is:
Does starting rehabilitation earlier improve walking, balance, physical activity, quality of life, and nervous system function after surgery?
Researchers will compare participants who begin rehabilitation two weeks after surgery with participants who begin rehabilitation six weeks after surgery to see if earlier rehabilitation leads to better recovery outcomes and participation.
Participants will:
Be randomly assigned to begin rehabilitation either two weeks or six weeks after surgery.
Attend physical therapy sessions twice per week for eight weeks focused on strength, balance, and walking.
Complete assessments of walking ability, balance, physical activity, quality of life, and nervous system function over several months after surgery.
Provide feedback about their experience with the rehabilitation program, including satisfaction and any side effects or challenges related to participation.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Usual Care Rehabilitation | Active comparator | Behavioral: Physical TherapyParticipants will begin post-operative rehabilitation 6 weeks following their cervical spine surgery |
| Early Rehabilitation | Experimental | Behavioral: Physical TherapyParticipants will begin post-operative rehabilitation 2 weeks following their cervical spine surgery |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- adult (>18 years of age) with diagnosis of degenerative cervical myelopathy, within 2 weeks of spinal decompression surgery
- plan to be discharged home from acute care (i.e., not admitted to another facility for post-operative rehabilitation)
- able to stand with a maximum of one-person assist (+/- use of gait aid)
- persistent functional impairment in lower extremity strength, balance, coordination, and/or gait
- ability to attend an 8-week in-person rehabilitation program in Edmonton, Alberta
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- discharge from acute care facility > 2 weeks post-operative
- intra-operative or early post-operative complication delaying discharge or precluding participation in early rehabilitation
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Physical TherapyActive, task-specific physical therapy to enhance balance, walking, and strength | Behavioural | Early Rehabilitation, Usual Care Rehabilitation |
Primary outcome
Change from Baseline in the Ten Metre Walk Test
Time frame: Baseline and End Rehabilitation (8 weeks following Baseline)
Time to walk ten metres; lower times indicate faster walking speed
7 secondary outcomes
Change from Baseline in the Six Minute Walk Test
Time frame: Baseline and End Rehabilitation (8 weeks following Baseline)
Change from Baseline in the Timed Up and Go
Time frame: Baseline and End Rehabilitation (8 weeks following Baseline)
Change from Baseline in the Berg Balance Scale
Time frame: Baseline and End Rehabilitation (8 weeks following Baseline)
Change from Baseline on the 36-item Short Form Survey
Time frame: Baseline and End Rehabilitation (8 weeks following Baseline)
Change from Admission to Study on the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scale
Time frame: Study Admission and End of Study (12 weeks)
Change from Baseline in Motor-Evoked Potentials
Time frame: Baseline and End Rehabilitation (8 weeks following Baseline)
Change from Baseline in Hoffman Reflexes
Time frame: Baseline and End Rehabilitation (8 weeks following Baseline)
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 7 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Physical Therapy in people with Cervical Myelopathy, run by University of Alberta at 1 site in Canada.
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 5 inclusion and 2 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 7 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 Canada. 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?
Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change from Baseline in the Ten Metre Walk Test (time frame: Baseline and End Rehabilitation (8 weeks following Baseline)). 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 7 Aug 2026.