Adding mental practice (motor imagery) to rehabilitation to improve balance and reduce fear of movement in Parkinson's
The Effect of Motor Imagery Added to Conventional Rehabilitation on Balance and Kinesiophobia in Patients With Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial
NA · Sehit Prof. Dr. Ilhan Varank Sancaktepe Training and Research Hospital · NCT07495462
This project will test whether adding motor imagery—mental rehearsal of movements—to standard rehabilitation helps people with Parkinson's disease improve balance and feel less afraid to move.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 42 (estimated) |
| Ages | 40 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Sehit Prof. Dr. Ilhan Varank Sancaktepe Training and Research Hospital (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Istanbul, Istanbul) |
| Trial ID | NCT07495462 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Participants receive conventional rehabilitation and some will add motor imagery training, a structured program of mentally rehearsing everyday movements without physical execution. Motor imagery sessions are guided, require no special equipment, and are delivered alongside standard balance and gait exercises. Balance performance and kinesiophobia (fear of movement) questionnaires are measured before and after the intervention to track change. Eligibility focuses on people with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's (Hoehn and Yahr 1–3), age 40+, and adequate cognition, with exclusions for DBS, severe dyskinesia, major cardiopulmonary or vestibular problems, and other significant neurological or orthopedic conditions.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with Parkinson's disease aged 40 or older, Hoehn and Yahr stage 1–3, with MMSE ≥22, able to attend outpatient rehab sessions, and without deep brain stimulation or severe comorbidities.
Not a fit: Patients with advanced Parkinson's (Hoehn and Yahr >3), severe cognitive impairment, deep brain stimulation, severe dyskinesia, uncontrolled cardiopulmonary disease, or major sensory/orthopedic impairments are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding motor imagery could reduce fear of movement and improve balance, lowering fall risk and helping people stay more active.
How similar studies have performed: Small trials and rehabilitation programs using motor imagery in Parkinson's and other neurologic conditions have shown promising but mixed improvements in motor control and balance, so the approach is supported but not yet definitive.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 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 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
Where this trial is running
Istanbul, Istanbul
- Sehit Prof. Dr. Ilhan Varank Sancaktepe Training and Research Hospital — Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye) (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Büşranur Kurtça Güdük, MD
- Email: bsrnrk92@gmail.com
- Phone: +905536267034
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Parkinson Disease, Rehabilitation, Kinesiophobia, Balance, Motor Imagery