Effect of Motor Imagery Training on Pain, Functionality, Proprioception and Kinesiophobia in Partial Rotator Cuff Tear

NCT06875895 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: KSBU-RC
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of motor imagery training on pain, functionality, proprioception and kinesiophobia in patients with partial rotator cuff tears. Participants will be randomly assigned to traditional physiotherapy and motor imagery groups. Interventions will be performed with a physiotherapist for a total of 20 sessions for 4 weeks, 5 days a week. The intervention program will be determined by the Specialist Physical Therapy Physician. Data will be collected before the study, at the end of the training in the 4th week and at the 8th week (follow-up evaluation). Motor imagery ability will be assessed with the Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-R), pain will be assessed with the Numerical Assessment Scale for functionality with the DASH, proprioception will be assessed with the inclinometer and kinesiophobia will be assessed with the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale.

Conditions

Rotator Cuff Tears

Keywords

Rotator Cuff; Exercise therapy; Imagery

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (10)

• Standardized Mini Mental Test

  The Standardized Mini Mental Test is a short, efficient and standard method that can be preferred in determining the cognitive level of the individual. It is collected under five headings: orientation, recording memory, attention and calculation, recall and language. There are eleven items that individuals will answer. It is evaluated out of a total of 30 points. The threshold value was determined as 24 points in the Turkish validity and reliability study.

  a day before the rehabilitation

• Numerical Rating Scale

  Pain intensity will be measured using the Numerical Rating Scale. A decrease in the point indicates that the pain is decreasing.

  a day before the rehabilitation

• Numerical Rating Scale

  Pain intensity will be measured using the Numerical Rating Scale. A decrease in the point indicates that the pain is decreasing.

  up to 4 weeks

• Numerical Rating Scale

  Pain intensity will be measured using the Numerical Rating Scale. A decrease in the point indicates that the pain is decreasing.

  up to 8 weeks

• Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand

  Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand scale is a questionnaire developed to assess the musculoskeletal pathology of the upper extremity and the entire upper extremity in general. It consists of 30 questions that evaluate the degree of difficulty in performing different activities using the upper extremity in daily life in the last week (21 questions), symptoms consisting of pain, activity-related pain, numbness, joint stiffness and weakness (5 questions), and the effects of pathologies on social life, sleep, work and psychological status (4 questions). All questions have a 5-point Likert model (1: no difficulty, 2: mild difficulty, 3: moderate difficulty, 4: extreme difficulty, 5: completely unable to do). The Turkish version of the DASH Questionnaire was used.

  a day before the rehabilitation

• Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand

  Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand scale is a questionnaire developed to assess the musculoskeletal pathology of the upper extremity and the entire upper extremity in general. It consists of 30 questions that evaluate the degree of difficulty in performing different activities using the upper extremity in daily life in the last week (21 questions), symptoms consisting of pain, activity-related pain, numbness, joint stiffness and weakness (5 questions), and the effects of pathologies on social life, sleep, work and psychological status (4 questions). All questions have a 5-point Likert model (1: no difficulty, 2: mild difficulty, 3: moderate difficulty, 4: extreme difficulty, 5: completely unable to do). The Turkish version of the DASH Questionnaire was used.

  up to 4 weeks

• Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand

  Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand scale is a questionnaire developed to assess the musculoskeletal pathology of the upper extremity and the entire upper extremity in general. It consists of 30 questions that evaluate the degree of difficulty in performing different activities using the upper extremity in daily life in the last week (21 questions), symptoms consisting of pain, activity-related pain, numbness, joint stiffness and weakness (5 questions), and the effects of pathologies on social life, sleep, work and psychological status (4 questions). All questions have a 5-point Likert model (1: no difficulty, 2: mild difficulty, 3: moderate difficulty, 4: extreme difficulty, 5: completely unable to do). The Turkish version of the DASH Questionnaire was used.

  up to 8 weeks

• Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale

  The Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale will be used. A 4-point Likert scale is used and the total score is 33. The higher a person's score on the scale, the greater their fear of movement.

  a day before the rehabilitation

• Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale

  The Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale will be used. A 4-point Likert scale is used and the total score is 33. The higher a person's score on the scale, the greater their fear of movement.

  up to 4 weeks

• Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale

  The Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale will be used. A 4-point Likert scale is used and the total score is 33. The higher a person's score on the scale, the greater their fear of movement.

  up to 8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-R)

  a day before the rehabilitation

• Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-R)

  up to 4 weeks

• Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-R)

  up to 8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Control Group (Traditional Physiotherapy)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Traditional physical therapy will begin with the application of Hotpack, Tens and Ultrasound to the painful area for five minutes. Then, stretching exercises will be performed at the pain limit for the six main shoulder movements in the shoulder joint. Then, wand exercises, pendulum exercises, isometric exercises for the shoulder joint and strengthening active exercises will be given in order to increase the normal range of motion in the shoulder joint. The six main shoulder movements will be actively performed (flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, medial and lateral rotations). After the 5th session, weights will be added according to the patient's condition.

Other: Traditional Physiotherapy

Motor Imagery Training

EXPERIMENTAL

In motor imagery training, exercises in traditional physiotherapy will be applied with kinesthetic and visual motor imagery. Each movement will be divided into five sets consisting of two trials separated by 10 repetitions and 30-second rest periods. It will also be emphasized through practice that the functional movement imagined and the times when this movement is actually actively performed should be similar. Individuals' eyes will be closed throughout the entire motor imagery training. At the very beginning of the session, a relaxation exercise lasting approximately 5 minutes will be performed in order to maximize attention during motor imagery. Whether or not individuals are performing imagery will be monitored by monitoring heart rate variables from autonomic functions. In order to ensure standardization during imagery, commands will be applied with audio recordings containing metaphors.

Other: Motor Imagery Training

Interventions

Traditional Physiotherapy OTHER

Hotpack, Tens and Ultrasound application

Control Group (Traditional Physiotherapy)

Motor Imagery Training OTHER

Kinesthetic and visual motor imagery will be applied.

Motor Imagery Training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Randomization was done according to gender, 40 female and 40 male.
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Partial rotator cuff tear diagnosis.
• Between the ages of 18-65
• Patients experiencing pain for at least 4 weeks.
• Having a valid score on the Mini Mental Test (\>24)
• Those without a history of any neurological or serious psychological illness.
• Those who have not participated in a previous study on motor imagery training

You may not qualify if:

• Complete rotator cuff tear or conditions requiring surgical intervention,
• Participants who have received treatment with corticosteroids by any means in the previous 6 months,
• Participants who have a rotator cuff tear due to acute traumatic conditions (proximal humerus fracture).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kutahya Health Sciences University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Kütahya Health Sciences University

Kütahya, 43000, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Rotator Cuff Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Rupture; Wounds and Injuries; Shoulder Injuries; Tendon Injuries

Central Study Contacts

Sevtap CAKIR, Asst. Prof.

CONTACT

05343818927; sevtap.cakir@ksbu.edu.tr

Sevtap CAKIR, Asst. Prof.

CONTACT

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Asst. Prof.

Model Details: A single-center randomized controlled study was designed.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 9, 2025
• First Posted: March 13, 2025
• Study Start: January 16, 2025
• Primary Completion: April 3, 2026
• Study Completion: May 3, 2026
• Last Updated: April 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

TU (1)