Loading search results
Clinical Effectiveness of Action Observation and Motor Imagery Training in Individuals With Cervical Disc Herniation
Sponsor study identifier
interventional
36
0 countries
N/A
Study Start
August 25, 2026
Estimated (date passed)This estimate has passed. The registry has not confirmed an actual date for this milestone.
Primary Completion
November 1, 2026
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
Study Completion
December 1, 2026
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
Cervical disc herniation is a common degenerative spinal disorder associated with chronic neck pain, impaired cervical function, reduced motor control, and decreased quality of life. Although conventional physiotherapy is widely used, innovative rehabilitation strategies that enhance motor learning may improve treatment outcomes. This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of Action Observation (AO) and Motor Imagery (MI) training as an adjunct to conventional physiotherapy in individuals with cervical disc herniation and chronic neck pain. Thirty-six participants diagnosed with cervical disc herniation will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The control group will receive conventional physiotherapy combined with sham observation consisting of neutral nature videos, while the experimental group will receive conventional physiotherapy plus AO and MI training. The intervention period will last six weeks. Clinical outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention. Primary and secondary outcome measures will include pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, neck disability, kinesiophobia, cervical motor control and endurance, and cervical proprioception using validated assessment tools. The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of AO and MI training as complementary rehabilitation approaches for individuals with cervical disc herniation and to support the integration of motor learning-based interventions into clinical physiotherapy practice.
Registry-reported information. Elapsed time and enrollment totals alone do not measure study progress or recruitment pace.
December 1, 2026
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Some registry-reported names shown below are not yet linked in this graph.
Dates and qualifiers reported by the registry. Estimated dates do not confirm that a milestone has occurred.
August 19, 2026
Actual (reported)August 24, 2026
Actual (reported)August 25, 2026
Estimated (date passed)This estimate has passed. The registry has not confirmed an actual date for this milestone.
November 1, 2026
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
December 1, 2026
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
Neck Disability Index
Neck-related disability will be assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). The NDI consists of 10 items addressing pain intensity, personal care, lifting, reading, headaches, concentration, work, driving, sleeping, and recreation. Each item is scored from 0 to 5, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 50. Higher scores indicate greater neck-related disability.
Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Craniocervical Flexion Test
Deep cervical flexor motor control and endurance will be assessed using the Craniocervical Flexion Test with a pressure biofeedback unit. Participants will perform progressive craniocervical flexion at five pressure levels (22-30 mmHg) from a baseline pressure of 20 mmHg. The highest pressure level successfully achieved and maintained for 10 seconds without compensatory movement will be recorded as the motor control performance. The participant's ability to sustain the target pressure level throughout the test will also be used to evaluate deep cervical flexor muscle endurance. Higher performance reflects better motor control and endurance.
Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Participants in the experimental group will receive an individualized conventional physiotherapy program three times per week for six weeks. In addition, they will receive approximately 20 minutes of Action Observation (AO) and Motor Imagery (MI) training during each treatment session.
Participants in the control group will receive the same individualized conventional physiotherapy program three times per week for six weeks. In place of Action Observation and Motor Imagery training, they will watch neutral nature videos without motor content for approximately 20 minutes during each session as a sham observation intervention.
Participants in both study groups will receive an individualized conventional physiotherapy program three times per week for six weeks. The program will include electrotherapy (conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation or vacuum interferential current applied on alternating sessions), superficial heat therapy, soft tissue mobilization, and a supervised therapeutic exercise program. The exercise program will consist of deep cervical flexor activation exercises, cervical range-of-motion exercises, scapular stabilization exercises, postural correction exercises, and stretching exercises targeting the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, and pectoral muscles. All treatment sessions will be delivered individually by the same physiotherapist, and exercise intensity will be adjusted according to each participant's tolerance and clinical status.
İrem Çetinkaya, PhD
Marmara University
First Submitted
August 19, 2026
First Posted
August 24, 2026
Study Start
August 25, 2026
Estimated (date passed)This estimate has passed. The registry has not confirmed an actual date for this milestone.
Primary Completion
Visual Analog Scale for Pain
Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Pressure Pain Threshold Measured With a Digital Algometer
Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia-11
Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Cervical Joint Position Error
Baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention
Participants in the experimental group will receive approximately 20 minutes of Action Observation (AO) and Motor Imagery (MI) training in addition to conventional physiotherapy during each treatment session, three times per week for six weeks. During the AO component, participants will observe standardized videos demonstrating correct execution of cervical and scapular movements, including cervical flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation, and scapular retraction. Immediately afterward, participants will perform MI under physiotherapist supervision by mentally rehearsing the same movements using both visual imagery (imagining observing themselves performing the movement) and kinesthetic imagery (imagining the sensory experience of performing the movement). All sessions will be delivered individually following a standardized intervention protocol.
Participants in the control group will receive approximately 20 minutes of sham observation in addition to conventional physiotherapy during each treatment session, three times per week for six weeks. Instead of Action Observation and Motor Imagery training, participants will watch neutral nature videos without any human movement or motor-related content. The sham intervention is designed to match the experimental intervention in duration, therapist supervision, and attention while avoiding activation of motor learning processes.
Registry-reported names are shown in full. Names without a link have not yet been matched to a Syfrah profile.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
November 1, 2026
Planned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
Study Completion
December 1, 2026
EstimatedPlanned date reported by the registry; this milestone is not confirmed as achieved.
Last Updated
August 24, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-08
Download the complete ClinicalTrials.gov record imported by Syfrah, including fields not shown in this page. The registry may contain a newer revision.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov.
JSON downloads include source attribution and retrieval details alongside the unchanged original record or the separately normalized values.
Source retrieved: