Mental imagery to improve arm and hand skills in Parkinson's
The Immediate Effect of Mental Imagery on Upper Extremity Skills With the Patients of Parkinson's Disease
This trial will test whether guided mental imagery exercises can help people with Parkinson's improve arm and hand movement and dexterity.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 40 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Kahramanmaraş, Onikişubat) |
| Trial ID | NCT07193303 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This interventional study uses motor imagery—the mental rehearsal of movements without physical execution—to try to improve upper extremity skills in people with Parkinson's disease. Eligible participants are adults aged 40–75 with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, Hoehn & Yahr stage 4 or lower, and meeting minimum cognitive screening scores; people with other neurological/systemic diseases or upper extremity contractures are excluded. The intervention consists of mental imagination training that can be performed independently and is commonly used in neurological rehabilitation. Outcomes focus on manual dexterity and upper limb function to see whether mental imagery can produce clinically meaningful improvements.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 40–75 with idiopathic Parkinson's disease diagnosed by a specialist, Hoehn & Yahr stage ≤4, Mini Mental State Examination score ≥24 for those receiving training (or ≥18 if not), no other neurological or systemic disease, and no upper extremity contractures.
Not a fit: Patients with advanced disease beyond Hoehn & Yahr stage 4, significant cognitive impairment, active psychiatric illness, use of neuroleptics or antidepressants, or orthopedic conditions that impair hand function (for example severe dyskinesia, carpal tunnel, tendon injury, amputations, or rheumatoid arthritis) are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a simple, low-cost way to improve arm and hand function and daily activities for people with Parkinson's without changing medications.
How similar studies have performed: Motor imagery has shown benefits for motor skills in other neurological conditions and some movement disorders, but direct evidence specifically improving upper-extremity function in Parkinson's is promising yet still limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy individuals aged 40-75 years, diagnosed with idiopathic PD according to the UK Parkinson's Disease Association Brain Bank criteria by a specialist neurologist, with a Modified Hoehn \& Yahr (m-HY) scale stage ≤4, and with a Mini Mental State Examination score of ≥24 for those with training and ≥18 for those without training, and with no known disease, volunteered to participate in the study. * PD individuals with no other known neurological and/or systemic disease * PD individuals without any upper extremity contractures Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals with diagnosed and/or treated psychiatric illnesses who are considered unable to complete the tests. * Individuals who is taking neuroleptic medications or antidepressants. * Individuals with orthopedic conditions that interfere with manual dexterity tests, such as severe dyskinesia, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendon injuries, or finger amputations; rheumatological conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis; and individuals with any neurological condition other than PD.
Where this trial is running
Kahramanmaraş, Onikişubat
- Kahramanmaraş Sütçü imam University — Kahramanmaraş, Onikişubat, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Asiya Uzun, Asisstant Prof — Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University
- Study coordinator: Hatice adıgüzel tat, Associate Proffessor
- Email: fzthatis@gmail.com
- Phone: +903443002647
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.