Improving recovery after cervical spine surgery with early physical therapy

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the effects of early postoperative physical therapy (PT) compared to delayed PT on recovery outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery for degenerative conditions. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive PT within two weeks post-surgery or after three months. The study aims to measure improvements in disability, pain, physical function, and return to work, with a total of 76 participants expected to be enrolled and followed for 12 months. The trial will assess various outcomes, including handgrip strength and cervical range of motion, to determine the effectiveness of early intervention.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Surgical treatment of a cervical degenerative condition using a 1- or 2-level ACDF procedure;
* English speaking due to feasibility of employing study personnel to deliver and assess the study intervention; and
* Age 18-75 years of age (individuals older than 75 are more likely to experience respiratory and nervous system complications and death following ACDF)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Surgery secondary to trauma, fracture, tumor, infection, or spinal deformity;
* Undergoing cervical corpectomy;
* Prior history of cervical spine surgery in last 5 years;
* Diagnosis or presence of osteoporosis;
* Diagnosis or presence of severe psychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder;
* Documented history of alcohol and/or drug abuse;
* Currently involved in litigation due to injury;
* Currently undergoing treatment for cancer;
* Patients not able to return for follow-up visits due to time and travel limitation or other reasons; and
* Unable to provide a stable telephone or physical address

Where it's running

• Tripler Army Medical Center
  Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Recruiting
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  Nashville, Tennessee, United States Recruiting
• Booke Army Medical Center
  Fort Sam Houston, Texas, United States Recruiting
• Madigan Army Medical Center
  Tacoma, Washington, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Kristin Archer, PhD — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Study coordinator: Amanda Priest
• Email: amanda.priest@vumc.org
• Phone: 615-421-8336

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Parasite and Infestation Experience: Understanding What People Feel and Think

  This observational study tests how people who strongly believe they have parasites or infestation feel and think, even when doctors say otherwise.

  Recruiting Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Nashville, Tennessee · NCT07849907

• Corticosteroid for Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) in Adults with Diabetic Retinopathy

  This trial tests whether intravitreal corticosteroid injections can influence inflammatory biomarkers and improve DME in adults with type 2 diabetes.

  Recruiting Phase 4 Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Nashville, Tennessee · NCT07843849

• Non-invasive test to predict early heart rejection in pediatric transplant patients

  This study tests non-invasive heart tests like cardiac MRI and blood markers to see if they can detect rejection in kids after heart transplant, potentially reducing the need for invasive biopsies.

  Recruiting at 22 sites Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Little Rock, Arkansas and 21 other locations · NCT07770659

• AR-guided resection planning for head and neck tumors

  Aims to see if augmented reality guidance can help surgeons perform more precise re-sections in head and neck tumor cases using cadaver specimens.

  Recruiting Early Phase 1 Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Nashville, Tennessee · NCT07686211

• Modeling heart failure in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy to find surrogate heart measures

  This study will look at heart disease in people with Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy and carriers to see if MRI-based heart measures can predict death or major heart problems.

  Recruiting at 9 sites Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Sacramento, California and 8 other locations · NCT07674758

• Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy in Adults: A Prospective multicenter look

  This study tests whether adults with decompensated cirrhosis often have hidden heart problems and whether bile acids in the blood are linked to those heart changes.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Nashville, Tennessee and 1 other locations · NCT07658222

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.