Effect of Motor Imagery Added to Rehabilitation on Balance and Kinesiophobia in Patients With Parkinson's Disease

NCT07495462 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: MI-PD-2026-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 42
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive brain disorder that affects movement and balance. It can cause slowed movements, stiffness, tremor, balance problems, and an increased risk of falling. Many individuals with PD develop fear of movement, also referred to as kinesiophobia, and fear of falling. This condition may lead to avoidance of physical activity, which can further worsen balance and movement abilities. This study aims to determine whether adding Motor Imagery (MI) to a standard rehabilitation program can improve balance and reduce fear of movement in individuals with PD. MI is a mental practice technique in which an individual rehearses movements cognitively without actual physical execution. For example, a person may imagine standing up, walking, or climbing stairs. Although the movement is not physically performed, the brain regions involved in movement are activated. MI is safe, does not require special equipment, and may help improve motor control. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive standard physical therapy and rehabilitation exercises, while the other group will receive the same therapy combined with additional MI training. The rehabilitation program will last six weeks. The study will primarily evaluate whether this combined approach improves balance and reduces fear of movement. In addition, the potential effects of the intervention on fall risk, functional mobility and performance, fear of falling, activities of daily living, and motor function will also be examined. Assessments will be performed at the beginning of the study, at the end of treatment, and again at 12 weeks. Researchers hope to determine whether combining MI with conventional rehabilitation provides greater benefits than conventional rehabilitation alone and may help improve rehabilitation strategies for people living with PD.

Conditions

Parkinson Disease (PD)

Keywords

Rehabilitation; Kinesiophobia; Balance; Motor Imagery (MI)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change from baseline in kinesiophobia

  Kinesiophobia will be assessed using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK-17). The TSK-17 is a self-reported questionnaire used to evaluate fear of movement or re-injury. Higher scores indicate greater levels of kinesiophobia.

  Baseline, at 6 weeks (end of intervention), and at 12 weeks follow-up

• Change from baseline in balance performance

  Balance performance will be assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The BBS is a widely used clinical scale consisting of 14 functional tasks that evaluate static and dynamic balance abilities. Higher scores indicate better balance performance.

  Baseline, at 6 weeks (end of intervention), and at 12 weeks follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change from baseline in motor function

  Baseline, at 6 weeks (end of intervention), and at 12 weeks follow-up

• Change from baseline in fall risk and functional mobility

  Baseline, at 6 weeks (end of intervention), and at 12 weeks follow-up

Study Arms (2)

Conventional Rehabilitation Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will receive a structured conventional rehabilitation program including balance training, gait training, strengthening exercises, and functional mobility exercises

Behavioral: Conventional Rehabilitation

Motor Imagery + Conventional Rehabilitation Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive traditional rehabilitation along with motor imagery training.

Behavioral: Conventional Rehabilitation; Behavioral: Motor Imagery Training

Interventions

Conventional Rehabilitation BEHAVIORAL

A structured physiotherapy program focusing on balance, gait, strength, and functional mobility training

Also known as: Control

Conventional Rehabilitation Group; Motor Imagery + Conventional Rehabilitation Group

Motor Imagery Training BEHAVIORAL

A structured motor imagery program including guided visual and kinesthetic mental rehearsal of functional movements, applied in addition to conventional rehabilitation.

Motor Imagery + Conventional Rehabilitation Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease (PD)
• Age 40 years or older
• Hoehn and Yahr stage between 1 and 3
• Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 22 or higher

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of an additional neurological disorder
• Movement impairment or nerve damage due to orthopedic pathology
• Cardiopulmonary conditions that contraindicate exercise participation
• Presence of severe dyskinesia
• Visual or vestibular impairments that may affect balance
• Presence of motor fluctuations (on-off periods)
• Deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's Disease

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sehit Prof. Dr. Ilhan Varank Sancaktepe Training and Research Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Sehit Prof. Dr. Ilhan Varank Sancaktepe Training and Research Hospital

Istanbul, Istanbul, 34785, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Parkinson Disease; Kinesiophobia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Phobic Disorders; Anxiety Disorders; Mental Disorders

Central Study Contacts

Büşranur Kurtça Güdük, MD

CONTACT

+905536267034; bsrnrk92@gmail.com

Pelin Yıldırım, MD

CONTACT

+905323801078; drpeliny@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned to two parallel groups receiving either conventional rehabilitation alone or conventional rehabilitation combined with motor imagery training.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 21, 2026
• First Posted: March 27, 2026
• Study Start: January 2, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 25, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2026
• Last Updated: April 2, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)