Evaluation of Cervical Position and Movement Sense Using a Novel Computer Vision-Based Software

Condition(s) studied

Study summary

This observational study evaluates cervical proprioception using a computer vision-based system developed with OpenCV and MediaPipe. Healthy adults will perform a series of head movements while their nose tip is tracked by a camera. The primary objective is to assess the accuracy of neck position and movement perception. Data will be analyzed to determine the reliability of the tracking system. The study is non-invasive, involves no interventions, and poses minimal risk to participants. Findings may support the development of accessible diagnostic tools for clinical and research applications.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Cervical Joint Position Sense (Head Relocation Error) — The test will be repeated at 1-hour intervals.
  With the help of algorithms, the initial position of the participant's nose tip on the screen will be recorded. Following flexion, extension, or rotation movements, the final position will be obtained, and the difference between the initial and final positions will be calculated in pixels and reported as the error score. While the primary output will be in pixels, this difference can also be expressed in degrees with the necessary conversions. Rotational movements performed during the measurement will be simultaneously recorded using the CROM device, and the values from the screen will be compared with those from the CROM to assess criterion validity, which provides the error magnitude directly in degrees. Measurements performed on the same group at two different time points will be analyzed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), and Bland-Altman methods.
• Cervical Movement Sense - Patterned Tracking — The test will be repeated at 1-hour intervals.
  During the test, an F8 or ZZ shaped pattern will be displayed on the screen, and the participant will trace the pattern starting from the center using their nose tip. The algorithm will track the nose tip's position in each camera frame throughout the test: if the nose tip remains within the shape, the error score will be 0; if it moves outside, the distance to the nearest point of the shape will be calculated in pixels and recorded as the instantaneous error score. At the end of the test, all instantaneous error scores will be summed to obtain the total error score. The start and finish times of the test will also be recorded to determine the total test duration. Total error scores from measurements performed on the same group at different time points will be analyzed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), and Bland-Altman methods.
• Cervical Movement Sense - Target Tracking: — The test will be repeated at 1-week intervals.
  During the test, a rectangle will appear on the screen and move at a constant speed along the ZZ or F8 paths. The participant will attempt to keep their nose tip inside this moving rectangle. Since the speed is fixed, the test duration is the same for all participants. Scoring Methods Time-Based Score: The total time the nose tip remains inside the rectangle is divided by the total test duration. The resulting ratio ranges from 0 to 1: 1 → Best score (nose tip always inside) 0 → Worst score (nose tip never inside) Distance-Based Score: For each frame, the algorithm calculates the distance from the nose tip to the rectangle: Inside = 0 Outside = distance in pixels to the nearest edge At the end, all distances are summed to obtain the total deviation score. Both scores from measurements performed on the same group at different time points will be analyzed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), and Bland-Altman methods.
• Sensorimotor Control Assessment — The test will be repeated at 1-hour intervals.
  The test duration is 60 seconds. During this time, individual points will appear on the screen at random locations. The participant's task is to move their nose tip over these points. When the nose tip correctly reaches a point: The point will disappear, A new point will appear at a different location on the screen. At the end of the test, the number of points the participant successfully matched with their nose tip within the 60 seconds will be counted, and this value will be recorded as the test score. The test score obtained from measurements performed on the same group at different time points will be analyzed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), and Bland-Altman methods.

Trial sites (1)