Effects of Motor Imagery on Pain, Function, Endurance, Kinesiophobia and Sleep Quality in Patients With Non-specific Low Back Pain

Non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders all over the world and a leading cause of disability. It affects individuals across different age groups and is typically characterized by pain, stiffness, and functional limitations that reduce physical activity and overall quality of life. Among established clinical approaches, Core exercises are frequently used in the management of LBP, reducing pain and improving functionality by stabilizing the spine. However, despite their widespread use, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of combining core exercises with cognitive interventions, such as action observation.

Motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) offer practical, low-cost approaches that can be easily integrated into rehabilitation programs. Motor imagery involves the individual visualizing the physical movement in their mind without performing it, while action observation involves learning specific movements by observing them. These techniques can strengthen the effectiveness of physical exercises by increasing neuromuscular activation. However, it has been reported that motor imagery-based cortical processes facilitate the reorganization of sensory-motor functions during daily activities in LBP patients. Studies in this area are quite limited. The effectiveness of action observation therapy, which is primarily effective in neurological conditions, has not been investigated in non-specific low back pain. Therefore, in this study, the effects of combining action observation therapy with a core exercise program, Pain, Function, Endurance, Kinesiophobia, and Sleep Quality in patients with non-specific low back pain will be examined.

The study aims to investigate the effects of combining action observation therapy with core exercises compared with core exercises alone in patients with NSLBP. Patients attending Fizyowell physiotherapy and Healthy Services clinic who meet the inclusion criteria will be included in the study. This study seeks to explore the potential benefits of integrating cognitive techniques into a conventional exercise-based rehabilitation for NSLBP.

To establish participant eligibility before the study begins, a standardized demographic data form will be collected from all subjects who volunteered to participate in the study, including gender, age, height, weight, education, marital status, chronic diseases and medication use, smoking, and alcohol use. In addition, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) will be used to assess the patient's mental state, determine the ability to understand and follow instructions, and identify cognitive disorders that may make it difficult to perform mental interventions. The Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) will be used to determine each participant's motor imagery ability. Once eligibility is confirmed, baseline assessments will be conducted, including pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functional disability assessed using the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Index Questionnaire, kinesiophobia evaluated with the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), core endurance tested through standardized endurance measures, and sleep quality assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

After the initial evaluation, the treatment program will be started. Advances in the treatment method specific to the groups they belong to are explained in detail below.

Treatment:

After the first evaluation, the core exercise program will be applied to the patients in Group 1, 3 days per week for 6 weeks. All sessions will be conducted under the supervision of a physiotherapist at the clinic.

Group 2: Conservative Treatment + Action Observation Program. This group will have action observation therapy in addition to the core exercise program. The patients in this group will receive an action observation therapy for 6 minutes before each exercise therapy session. They will watch videos of 2 different activities, the duration of each video is 3 minutes, and they were recorded from 3 planes (frontal, back, and lateral).