Cheng, Chih-HsiuChih-HsiuChengDAR-MING LAILau, Phooi YeePhooi YeeLauSHWU-FEN WANGChien, AndyAndyChienJAW-LIN WANGWEI-LI HSU2020-12-292020-12-2920202045-2322https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/534827Patients with cervical myelopathy may manifest impairments in functional activities and balance control caused by compression of the spinal cord. The objective of the current study was to determine long-term changes in the upright balance control of patients with cervical myelopathy who had undergone cervical decompression surgery. This is a prospective cohort study from the preoperative phase to 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postsurgery. Fifty-three patients with cervical myelopathy were recruited for the cervical myelopathy group and 22 age-matched healthy controls were recruited for the control group. Functional assessments including Japanese Orthopedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire-Lower Extremity Function (JOACMEQ-LEF) and 10-second step test; as well as balance assessments including postural sway (center-of-pressure: COP) were performed for both groups. The JOACMEQ-LEF (p = 0.036) scores of the myelopathy group improved postoperatively, and a significant decrease in COP variables of postural sway was observed. The upright posture was less stable in the myelopathy group than in the control group (p < 0.05) both before and after surgery. The effect size and standard response mean of the COP variables ranged from -0.49 to 0.03 at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postsurgery. The upright balance control had improved significantly 6 months after decompression surgery. However, the balance control of the patients who had undergone decompression surgery remained less stable than that of the age-matched healthy controls. Balance training should be initiated before 6 months postsurgery to accelerate balance control recovery in patients with cervical myelopathy.en[SDGs]SDG3adult; aged; body equilibrium; case control study; cervical vertebra; controlled study; convalescence; decompression surgery; female; follow up; human; male; middle aged; pathophysiology; physiology; prospective study; randomized controlled trial; spinal cord disease; treatment outcome; Adult; Aged; Case-Control Studies; Cervical Vertebrae; Decompression, Surgical; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Postural Balance; Prospective Studies; Recovery of Function; Spinal Cord Diseases; Treatment Outcome10.1038/s41598-020-66057-y32587272