THE EFFECT OF MOTOR IMAGERY ON UPPER EXTREMITY FUNCTIONS IN STROKE REHABILITATION
1 other identifier
interventional
51
1 country
1
Brief Summary
Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability worldwide. A proportion of individuals who experience a stroke fail to achieve the desired level of motor recovery in the affected upper extremity following rehabilitation, resulting in significant limitations in activities of daily living. After stroke, rehabilitation programs are essential to reduce disability and enhance functional outcomes. This study aims to evaluate whether the addition of Motor Imagery (MI) to a standard rehabilitation program contributes to improvements in upper extremity motor function in individuals with stroke. MI is a mental practice technique in which individuals cognitively rehearse movements without physically performing them. Although the movement is not executed, the brain regions involved in the movement are activated. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to three groups. All groups will receive a standard physical therapy and rehabilitation program. The first group will receive only standard physical therapy and rehabilitation. The second group will receive, in addition to conventional therapy, 15 minutes of MI training three days per week, while the third group will receive 15 minutes of MI training five days per week. The total treatment duration for all groups is planned as 30 sessions. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, at the end of the treatment period, and again at the 12th week. This study is based on the hypothesis that adding MI practice to a conventional upper extremity rehabilitation program after stroke will contribute to improvements in activities of daily living and functional recovery, and that these effects may be associated with the frequency of the intervention.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable
Started May 2026
Shorter than P25 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
April 27, 2026
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
May 1, 2026
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
May 4, 2026
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
November 15, 2026
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
December 15, 2026
May 4, 2026
April 1, 2026
7 months
April 27, 2026
April 27, 2026
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Change in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) score from baseline assessment
The Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) is a stroke-specific, performance-based impairment index designed to assess motor function of the upper extremity. The scale evaluates movement, coordination, and reflex activity of the shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand. Scores range from 0 to 66, with higher scores indicating better motor function
Baseline, at 6 weeks (end of intervention), and at 12 weeks (follow-up)
Secondary Outcomes (2)
Change in the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) score from baseline assessment.
Baseline, at 6 weeks (end of intervention), and at 12 weeks (follow-up)
Change in the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) score from baseline assessment
Baseline, at 6 weeks (end of intervention), and at 12 weeks (follow-up)
Study Arms (3)
Conventional Rehabilitation Group
ACTIVE COMPARATORParticipants will receive a structured, conventional rehabilitation program consisting of range of motion exercises, stretching, strengthening exercises, neuromuscular facilitation techniques, and neurophysiological approaches such as Brunnstrom and Bobath.
Motor Imagery + Conventional Rehabilitation Group 1
EXPERIMENTALParticipants will receive, in addition to conventional rehabilitation, 15 minutes of motor imagery training three days per week.
Motor Imagery + Conventional Rehabilitation Group 2
EXPERIMENTALParticipants will receive, in addition to conventional rehabilitation, 15 minutes of motor imagery training five days per week.
Interventions
A structured motor imagery program, applied in addition to conventional rehabilitation, consisting of visual and kinesthetic mental rehearsal of functional movements, delivered for 15 minutes per session, three days per week.
A structured motor imagery program, applied in addition to conventional rehabilitation, consisting of visual and kinesthetic mental rehearsal of functional movements, delivered for 15 minutes per session, five days per week.
A physiotherapy program comprising range of motion exercises, stretching, strengthening exercises, neuromuscular facilitation techniques, and neurophysiological approaches such as Brunnstrom and Bobath.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Being aged 18 years or older
- Having a diagnosis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke confirmed by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Being in the late subacute phase (more than 3 months post-stroke) or chronic phase (more than 6 months post-stroke) following stroke onset
- Presence of unilateral extremity hemiparesis
- Upper extremity stage between II and V for both proximal and distal segments according to the Modified Brunnstrom Classification
- A score of 21 or higher on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
You may not qualify if:
- Severe spasticity in the affected upper extremity, defined as a Modified Ashworth Scale score \> 2
- Presence of impaired consciousness, or severe hearing, visual impairment or global aphasia.
- Musculoskeletal disorders affecting upper extremity motor function, such as fracture or arthritis in the affected upper limb
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Sehit Prof. Dr. Ilhan Varank Sancaktepe Training and Research Hospital
Istanbul, Istanbul, 34785, Turkey (Türkiye)
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
April 27, 2026
First Posted
May 4, 2026
Study Start
May 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
November 15, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
December 15, 2026
Last Updated
May 4, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-04
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share