The Effects of Action Observation and Motor Imagery on Students' Ability to Locate Anatomical Locations: A Randomised Control Trial

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Motor Imagery; Action Observation
• Interventions: Other: Action Observation; Other: Motor Imagery; Other: Traditional Teaching

• Registration Number: NCT06043219
• Lead Sponsor: Teesside University

Brief Summary

The aim of this investigation is to measure if additional pedagogical techniques (Action Observation and Motor Imagery) improve student's ability to identify anatomical structures compared to traditional teaching techniques.

Detailed Description

The aim of this investigation is to measure if additional pedagogical techniques (Action Observation and Motor Imagery) improve student's ability to identify anatomical structures compared to traditional teaching techniques. Action observation is defined as watching human movement either via a pre-recorded video or a live demonstration. Motor imagery is defined as the mental representation of human movement, including its sensory and motor aspects, without physically executing the action. For example, imagining the feeling and effort of moving your upper-limb to reach out and grasp a glass of water from on top of a table. Motor imagery practice is defined as the structured engagement in motor imagery over time for the purpose of acquiring and enhancing motor skills.

Traditional teaching of anatomy using a common powerpoint based method, will be compared to the traditional powerpoint method plus the addition of action observation techniques or action observation and motor imagery techniques. The investigation, will also look at whether these interventions have an effect on information retention, by retesting the groups at a later date.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-09-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-09-12
• Study First Posted: 2023-09-21
• Study Start: 2023-09-25
• Primary Completion: 2024-02-28
• Study Completion: 2024-06-01
• Status Verified: 2024-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-11-19
• Last Update Posted: 2024-11-22

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 33

Inclusion Criteria

• Level 4 (year one) pre-registration Teesside University physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy/Radiography/Sports Rehab students.
• No previous specific University anatomy training.
• Willing to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

• Non Teesside University students
• Healthcare students with previous University level anatomy knowledge (including those with past healthcare degrees).
• Not willing to provide consent.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Action Observational and Motor Imagery	Traditional Teaching	Traditional anatomical teaching via a recorded powerpoint and additionally receiving practice of the task via action observation and at the same time imagine themselves executing the same action
Traditional Teaching	Traditional Teaching	Traditional anatomical teaching provided by a powerpoint lecture.
Action Observational	Action Observation	Traditional anatomical teaching via a recorded powerpoint and additionally receiving practice of the task via action observation.
Action Observational	Traditional Teaching	Traditional anatomical teaching via a recorded powerpoint and additionally receiving practice of the task via action observation.
Action Observational and Motor Imagery	Action Observation	Traditional anatomical teaching via a recorded powerpoint and additionally receiving practice of the task via action observation and at the same time imagine themselves executing the same action
Action Observational and Motor Imagery	Motor Imagery	Traditional anatomical teaching via a recorded powerpoint and additionally receiving practice of the task via action observation and at the same time imagine themselves executing the same action

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Location of key anatomical locations	Immediately post intervention and one week later	Each participant from each group will be required to required to palpate and locate 4 key anatomical locations from a list of Biceps Femoris Distal Tendon, Tibialis Posterior Tendon, tibiofemoral joint line, Talocrural joint line, Acromioclavicular Joint line, Long Head of Biceps, Glenohumeral joint line. The accuracy of location will be assessed by diagnostic ultrasound.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The Edinburgh Handedness Inventory	Pre intervention	Screening participants dominant hand
Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3	Pre- and post intervention (one week later)	Screening participant ability to conduct motor imagery
Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire-2	Pre- and post intervention (one week later)	Screening participant ability to conduct motor imagery

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Teesside University; 🇬🇧 Middlesbrough, United Kingdom