Motor Imagery and Action Observation for Gait Function in MS

NCT07137624 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: FTREK25/48
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will investigate whether mentally simulating walking movements while watching others walk can improve walking performance in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Participants will be divided into two groups: one group will watch walking videos and imagine themselves walking, while the other group will watch nature scenes. The study will measure muscle activity and walking patterns to assess the effects. The results may help support the use of mental practice techniques to improve mobility in people with MS.

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis

Keywords

Motor imagery; Action Observation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (8)

• Change in Tibialis Anterior and Gastrocnemius Medialis Muscle Activity Amplitude

  Change in muscle activity amplitude (microvolts, µV) of tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius medialis during gait initiation measured by surface EMG.

  Before and immediately after the intervention

• Change in Tibialis Anterior and Gastrocnemius Medialis Muscle Activity Onset Latency

  Change in onset latency (milliseconds, ms) of tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius medialis muscle activation during gait initiation measured by surface EMG.

  Before and immediately after the intervention.

• Change in Step Length

  Change in step length (centimeters, cm) during gait initiation measured by the GAITRite system.

  Before and immediately after the intervention

• Change in Step Time

  Change in step time (seconds, s) during gait initiation measured by the GAITRite system.

  Before and immediately after the intervention

• Change in Step Width

  Change in step width (centimeters, cm) during gait initiation measured by the GAITRite system.

  Before and immediately after the intervention

• Change in Double Support Period

  Change in double support period (percentage of gait cycle, %) during gait initiation measured by the GAITRite system.

  Before and immediately after the intervention

• Change in Gait Velocity

  Change in gait velocity (centimeters per second, cm/s) during gait initiation measured by the GAITRite system.

  Before and immediately after the intervention

• Change in Cadence

  Change in cadence (steps per minute, steps/min) during gait initiation measured by the GAITRite system.

  Before and immediately after the intervention

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Motor Imagery Vividness

  Baseline only

• Mental Chronometry Ratio

  Baseline only

• Limb Laterality Recognition Performance

  Baseline only

• Cognitive Status

  Baseline only

• Fatigue Level

  Baseline only

Other Outcomes (1)

• Perceived Task Load

  Immediately after the intervention

Study Arms (2)

Arm 1

EXPERIMENTAL

Arm 1: Experimental Group: Action Observation + Motor Imagery

Behavioral: Action Observation + Motor Imagery

Arm 2

OTHER

Arm 2: Control Group: Nature video

Behavioral: Nature Video

Interventions

Action Observation + Motor Imagery BEHAVIORAL

Participants will watch videos showing walking actions and will be instructed to mentally simulate the movement.

Arm 1

Nature Video BEHAVIORAL

Participants will watch a video of nature scenes.

Arm 2

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• A confirmed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) by a neurologist
• No history of relapse within the past 3 months and not currently experiencing a relapse
• A score of 24 or higher on the standardized Mini Mental State Examination

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of serious health conditions affecting the muscles, heart, lungs, or metabolism that could interfere with participation
• History of other neurological disorders, head injury, or chronic psychiatric conditions
• Chronic pain lasting longer than six months
• Significant muscle stiffness in the legs that may affect EMG recordings
• Hearing difficulties
• Vision problems as determined by the Snellen visual acuity test

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hacettepe University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hacettepe University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

Related Publications (5)

• Wright DJ, Williams J, Holmes PS. Combined action observation and imagery facilitates corticospinal excitability. Front Hum Neurosci. 2014 Nov 27;8:951. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00951. eCollection 2014.

  PMID: 25505880 RESULT

• Rocca MA, Meani A, Fumagalli S, Pagani E, Gatti R, Martinelli-Boneschi F, Esposito F, Preziosa P, Cordani C, Comi G, Filippi M. Functional and structural plasticity following action observation training in multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. 2019 Oct;25(11):1472-1487. doi: 10.1177/1352458518792771. Epub 2018 Aug 7.

  PMID: 30084706 RESULT

• Gil-Bermejo-Bernardez-Zerpa A, Moral-Munoz JA, Lucena-Anton D, Luque-Moreno C. Effectiveness of Motor Imagery on Motor Recovery in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 9;18(2):498. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18020498.

  PMID: 33435410 RESULT

• Chye S, Valappil AC, Wright DJ, Frank C, Shearer DA, Tyler CJ, Diss CE, Mian OS, Tillin NA, Bruton AM. The effects of combined action observation and motor imagery on corticospinal excitability and movement outcomes: Two meta-analyses. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2022 Dec;143:104911. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104911. Epub 2022 Nov 5.

  PMID: 36349570 RESULT

• Salamci M, Salci Y, Topuz S, Yalcin AI, Acar Ozen P, Tuncer A. Gait initiation in multiple sclerosis patients with and without functional loss. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2023 Nov;79:104990. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.104990. Epub 2023 Sep 4.

  PMID: 37708821 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS; Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System; Nervous System Diseases; Demyelinating Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases

Study Officials

• Yeliz Salcı, Assoc. Prof.

  Hacettepe University

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

Merve Ünal, Res. Asst.

CONTACT

+905386582787; merveunal.144@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: The study will be single-blinded. Participants will not be informed of their group assignment.
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group (motor imagery + action observation) or the control group (nature video).

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 6, 2025
• First Posted: August 22, 2025
• Study Start: January 3, 2026
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Last Updated: March 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)