Virtual Sailing Simulator in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury (VSail)

The research is being done to look at the benefits of a recreational and therapeutic program for people with spinal cord injury using the VSail-Access sailing simulator.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Spinal Cord Injury
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: The VSail-Access simulator

Detailed Description

The VSail-Access is the first sailing simulator available for people with disabilities. The VSail-Access simulator is a variation on the VSail where the cockpit is fitted with a seat. The VSail simulator is a generic sailboat cockpit powered by a pneumatic ram and custom designed software. The sailor sails the simulator around virtual courses displayed on a computer screen in the same way as a real sailboat on water. Electronic sensors provide real time feedback to match the movements of the virtual sailboat displayed on the screen with those of the simulator. Sailors can select wind strength and conditions to suit their ability.

Adults with spinal cord injury may take part in this study.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 18
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21205
      • Kennedy Krieger Institute

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 53 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Males and Females, age 18-65 years, all ethnic groups.
• Spinal Cord Injury.
• Chronic injury, > 6 months from the injury.
• All ASIA neurological levels (C1-S1)
• All ASIA impairment scale A-D .
• Subjects are able to comply with procedures and follow-up.
• Subjects are medically stable, with no recent (1 month or less) inpatient admission for acute medical or surgical issues.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cardiovascular disease as defined by previous myocardial infarction, unstable angina, requirement for anti platelet agents, congestive heart failure, or stroke NYHA Class III or IV, history of arrhythmia with hemodynamic instability.
• Uncontrolled hypertension (resting systolic BP > 160mmHg, or diastolic BP > 100mmHg consistently).
• Severe hypotension (systolic BP < 80 mmHg, or diastolic BP < 55 mmHg).
• Ventilator dependent subjects.
• Significant cognitive impairment.
• History of epileptic seizures.
• Unstable long bone fractures of the extremities.
• Subjects having Stage III or greater skin ulcerations.
• Active sailor.
• Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Virtual Sailing; you will be doing 60 minutes of Virtual Sailing training, 1 time a week for 12 weeks	Device: The VSail-Access simulator; You will be transferred to the VSail cockpit and secured. Following the trainer's instruction, you will sail the simulator around virtual courses displayed on a computer screen, using a joystick to control the rudder angle and a mainsheet to control the set of the sail. You will do this for 1 hour.; Other Names: VSail-Access simulator

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Spinal Cord Injury Quality of Life Questionnaire (SCI QL-23	This is a routine test performed for people with spinal cord injury. The SCI QL-23 is a 23-item health-related quality of life questionnaire. The subject will read the questionnaire and answer the questions; if needed ,assistance will be provided to record the answers on the form. The SCI QL-23 questionnaire will be used for all subjects.	Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Functional Reach Test, Level of Trunk Activation Test	Two different assessments of how you are able to use your trunk will be performed. This test is performed by patient reaching forward as far as they can while seated in their wheelchair.This test will assess the activation of trunk muscle by asking the patient to perform a sit-up from the supine position	Baseline
Grasp/Pinch Test	This is a routine test performed for people with spinal cord injury. This is a standard test used to assess strength of grasp and lateral pinch. The Jamar dynamometer will be used to assess grasp and lateral pinch. This test will be performed on all subjects.	Baseline
Sailing Ability Questionnaire	This questionnaire will assess the subject's views about sailing, as well as the subject's perceived sailing abilities. This is a yes or no survey, Zero is no, One is yes. One means you have sailed before and zero means you have not sailed before. minimum score is 0 and maximum score is 1.	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Albert Recio, MD, Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): August 1, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 6, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 12, 2011
• First Posted (Estimated): December 14, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 9, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 19, 2023
• Last Verified: December 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: spinal cord injury; Virtual sailing; Vsail
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Trauma, Nervous System; Spinal Cord Diseases; Wounds and Injuries; Spinal Cord Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: NA_00044093