A new scale to measure body awareness and spatial body maps in adults with spinal cord injury
Development of a Novel Evaluation Scale of Mental Body Representation (MBR) for Adults With Spinal Cord Injury
This study will test a new questionnaire to measure body awareness and visuospatial body maps in adults with spinal cord injury, including those with and without neuropathic pain.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Minnesota Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Minneapolis, Minnesota) |
| Trial ID | NCT07029802 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This cross-sectional observational study will develop and validate a novel Mental Body Representation (MBR) scale tailored for adults with spinal cord injury (SCI). Initial item generation will be done through email and individual interviews conducted remotely via Zoom or in person, followed by psychometric testing. Consenting and baseline questionnaires will occur over Zoom, and participants will complete the new SCI-BodyMap during an in-person visit to examine usability, reliability, and validity. The study includes both adults with chronic SCI (≥1 year) and uninjured adult controls for comparison.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults aged 18 or older with a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury of at least one year who are medically stable, read English, have internet access and can attend an in-person visit at the University of Minnesota, alongside uninjured adult controls aged 18+ for comparison.
Not a fit: People with uncontrolled seizure disorders, significant cognitive or communication impairments from brain injury, ventilator dependence, major medical complications, or pressure ulcers preventing prolonged sitting or lying are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the SCI-BodyMap could provide clinicians and researchers a reliable, easy-to-use tool to track body awareness and help tailor rehabilitation or pain management.
How similar studies have performed: Psychometric development using remote interviews followed by in-person testing has been successful for related patient-reported outcome measures, but a dedicated MBR scale specifically for SCI is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Control group * Uninjured adults (from the contact list with the Brain Body Mind lab or through fliers or StudyFinder) * 18+ years old adults SCI group * 18+ years old, participants with an incomplete or complete SCI of ≥ 1 year * medically stable * able to read and understand English * having access to the internet/iPad/computer/phone and willing to come in for an in-person testing at the University of Minnesota. Exclusion Criteria: SCI group * Uncontrolled seizure disorder; * cognitive impairment and/or communicative disability (e.g., due to brain injury) preventing them from following directions or from learning; * ventilator dependency; * major medical complications; * pressure ulcers hindering prolonged sitting or lying down.
Where this trial is running
Minneapolis, Minnesota
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ann Van de Winckel — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Sydney Carpentier
- Email: carpe749@umn.edu
- Phone: 562-508-9693
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.