Effects of Motor Imagery and Action Observation Training on Neck Reposition Sense in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Enrollment
- 30
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- Joint Position Error (JPE)
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study evaluates the influence of motor imagery or action observation training on joint position error in patients with chronic neck pain. This variable is a measure of proprioception and cervical motor control. A group of patients will receive an action observation training of neck movements, another will receive a protocol of motor imagery of the same movements and the last group will be a placebo group, through the viewing of a documentary video.
Detailed Description
Motor imagery is defined as a dynamic mental process of an action, without its real motor execution. Action observation training consists of watching an action performed by someone else. Both motor imagery and action observation have been shown to produce a neurophysiological activation of the brain areas related to the planning and execution of voluntary movement in a manner that resembles how the action is performed in reality.
Both motor imagery and action observation are interventions that can generate adaptive neuroplastic changes on a cortical level, leading to a decrease in chronic pain. These rehabilitation techniques are used in pain treatment and impaired movement injuries that could be due to a nervous system alteration.
The effectiveness of motor imagery is controversial; several studies have presented unfavorable outcomes from this technique. Some variables, such as the duration of the sessions, the time employed the type of motor task or the number of sessions can influence the outcomes of these studies. Thus, it is necessary to clarify the controversial aspects of motor imagery, which lead us to perform this study.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Double (Participant, Investigator)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Men and women aged between 18 and 65 years
- •Medical diagnosis of NSCNP with more than 6 months of evolution of neck pain
Exclusion Criteria
- •Patients with rheumatic diseases, cervical hernia, cervical whiplash syndrome, neck surgeries o a history of arthrodesis
- •Systemic diseases
- •Vision, hearing or vestibular problems
- •Severe trauma or a traffic accident that had an impact on the cervical area.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Joint Position Error (JPE)
Time Frame: Change from baseline and immediately post-intervention
JPE will be assessed with Motion Guidance Clinic Kit. This device consisted of adjustable straps and a fastening support for a laser beam. Patients were asked to sit in a comfortable position at a 90-cm distance from the bullseye with the device correctly placed. With eyes closed, they were asked to point to the neutral position of the head and memorize. This point was recorded as a reference for each patient. The patient subsequently performed a maximal movement of cervical flexion and then attempted to find the initial reference position with a maximum of precision without speed instruction. The point on which the light beam stopped indicated the global error measured in centimeters (cm) in relation to the center of the target recorded previously. The same protocol was used for the extension, right and left rotation movements. Ten trials were performed with head repositioning after each movement, and the mean measure was recorded.
Secondary Outcomes
- Visual and Kinesthetic Motor Imagery Ability(Immediately before the intervention)
- Mental Chronometry(Immediately before the intervention)
- Laterality task(Immediately before the intervention)
- Kinesiophobia(Immediately before the intervention)
- The degree of physical activity(Immediately before the intervention)
- Pain catastrophizing(Immediately before the intervention)
Investigators
Roy La Touche Arbizu
Principal Investigator
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid