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

Location: Sehit Prof. Dr. Ilhan Varank Sancaktepe Training and Research Hospital Istanbul

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.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease (PD) * Age 40 years or older * Modified Hoehn and Yahr scale stage between 1 and 3 * Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 22 or higher Exclusion Criteria: * 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

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07495462). StuddyBuddy aggregates publicly available trial information.