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Clinical Trials/NCT03910829
NCT03910829
Unknown
Not Applicable

Effects of Motor Imagery and Action Observation Training on Neck Reposition Sense in Patients With Chronic Neck Pain

Universidad Autonoma de Madrid1 site in 1 country30 target enrollmentApril 15, 2019
ConditionsChronic Pain

Overview

Phase
Not Applicable
Intervention
Not specified
Conditions
Chronic Pain
Sponsor
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid
Enrollment
30
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
Joint Position Error (JPE)
Last Updated
7 years ago

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.

Registry
clinicaltrials.gov
Start Date
April 15, 2019
End Date
July 31, 2019
Last Updated
7 years ago
Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Parallel
Sex
All

Investigators

Responsible Party
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator

Roy La Touche Arbizu

Principal Investigator

Universidad Autonoma de Madrid

Eligibility Criteria

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)

Study Sites (1)

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