Investigation of the Effect of Motor Imagery Training in Individuals With Cervical Discogenic Pain

Hacettepe University40 enrolled

Overview

In this study, motor control exercises including cervical region, upper extremity and scapular region muscles will be applied routinely in individuals with chronic neck pain. The application will been investigating, called motor imagery training, will been carried out together with motor control exercises.

This training is a mental exercise method based on imagining exercises that are performed actively without any interventional application inside or outside the body, in a comfortable environment and without fatigue. It is thought that motor imagery training applied together with motor control exercises will contribute to the management of chronic neck pain due to cervical disc herniation and symptoms related to pain. All individuals with cervical discogenic pain who met the inclusion criteria were assigned to '1. Group' and '2. It will be divided into two groups. It is planned to include approximately 20 individuals with cervical discogenic pain in each group. The sample size of the study will be determined by the power analysis to be made as a result of the pilot study to be carried out on 10 patients with the support of Biostatistics USA. Group 1: (estimated) 20 Individuals with Cervical Discogenic Pain Group 2: (estimated) 20 Individuals with Cervical Discogenic Pain

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Image, Body Neck Pain Disc Herniation

Interventions

Motor Imagery ExercisesOTHER

Lateralization Training: Individuals with cervical discogenic pain will receive lateralization training using a mobile application called "Recognize Neck" from the Neuro Orthopaedic Institute in Adelaide, Australia. Kinesthetic Imagery: During this training, individuals will be asked to actively perform exercises and feel the movements. In a quiet environment, a therapist will verbally describe the exercises, and individuals will be asked to imagine the positions of their bodies, the surface they are on, and the desired postures. Visual Imagery: Individuals will be asked to actively perform exercises and visualize the movements. In a quiet environment, a therapist will verbally describe the exercises, and individuals will be asked to mentally visualize their body positions, the surface they are on, and the exercises. Mirror-Image Active Exercise: Between weeks 6 and 8 of motor imagery training, the active exercises in front of a mirror.

Motor Control ExercisesOTHER

Stretching Exercises: Stretching exercises will be applied to the cervical muscles, pectoral muscles, back, and shoulder muscles. Individuals will be asked to perform flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotational normal joint movements in the cervical region, and hold the end position for a few seconds. All stretching exercises will be performed for 15 repetitions. Active Exercises: To strengthen the cervical muscle groups, individuals will be taught how to use a mild to moderate resistance theraband for cervical flexion, extension, and lateral flexion, without compromising the chin tuck movement. Each movement will be performed for 10 repetitions, with 5-second rest intervals between exercises. Endurance Exercises: Before starting the endurance exercises, individuals will be taught the contraction of deep cervical flexors to gain automatic postural stabilization, and they will be instructed to maintain this movement in every exercise and activity.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Being between the ages of 18 and 65, * Having a diagnosis of cervical disc herniation based on MRI findings, clinical, and physical examination, * Experiencing neck pain for 3 months or longer, * Having a resting pain intensity rated 3-7 (moderate severity) on the "Visual Analog Scale" for pain assessment (36), * Classifying neck pain according to the 'Neck Pain Task Force' clinical classification system as Grade 3 (neck pain with accompanying neurological symptoms) or above, * Having a Mini-Mental Test score of 24 or higher for the evaluation of cognitive functions. Exclusion Criteria: * Having a history of spinal tumor, spinal deformities, congenital malformation, or head trauma, * Undergoing cervical spine surgery in the last 6 months, * Having a presence of systemic, cardiorespiratory, central nervous system, or rheumatic diseases, any musculoskeletal or craniocervical disorders, or a history of headache.

Locations (2)

School of Sarıkaya Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Yozgat, Turkey (Türkiye)

Tugba DERE

Yozgat, Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Evaluation of Normal Joint Range of Motion

The cervical region and upper extremity normal range of motion of individuals with cervical discogenic pain will be evaluated using a universal goniometer.

Time frame: September 2023-July 2024 (11 months)

Evaluation of Pain

In order to evaluate the pain levels of individuals with cervical disc herniation, the 10 cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) developed by Price et al. to evaluate the level of pain in individuals with chronic pain will be used. 0; No pain, 10; means the most severe pain and individuals will be asked to indicate their neck pain level on the line.