Motor ImageryNCT05049772
Telerehabilitation-based Motor Imagery in Nonspecific Low Back Pain
A study testing Telerehabilitation-based motor imagery training and Stabilization exercises group in people with Motor Imagery, run by Izmir Katip Celebi University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Low back pain is a common problem in society and causes loss of workforce. Its lifetime prevalence reaches 80% and annual hospital admission rates in the adult population reach 15%.Most studies on motor imagery suggested the effects of motor imagery are related to neuroplastic changes in the brain. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Motor Imagery
- What is being tested?
- Telerehabilitation-based motor imagery training and Stabilization exercises group
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 54 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 8 Oct 2022to 16 Jul 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Those who can read and write
- Patients who have not undergone surgery
- Those with a body mass index less than 30 m2/kg
- To have sufficient computer knowledge to participate in the study or to have a relative who can help in this regard
- Having a computer and active internet connection at home
Who cannot join
- Medically uncontrolled and uncooperative patients
- Patients who have undergone surgery to the lumbar region
- History of falling in the last 6 months
- Those with serious orthopedic, vascular, neurological, psychiatric problems affecting balance
- Active malignancy
- Pregnancy
- Having severe vision and hearing problems
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Investigation of the Effects of Telerehabilitation-based Motor Imagery Training in Patients With Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Study.
Low back pain is a common problem in society and causes loss of workforce. Its lifetime prevalence reaches 80% and annual hospital admission rates in the adult population reach 15%.Most studies on motor imagery suggested the effects of motor imagery are related to neuroplastic changes in the brain. Studies have shown that similar brain regions are activated during motor imagery and real movement. However, the level of evidence about the effect of motor imagery on autonomic functions is limited. Today, interest in telerehabilitation has increased due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The aim of this study is to examine the effects of telerehabilitation-based motor imagery training in patients with non-specific low back pain.
- Conditions
- Motor Imagery
- Being tested
- Telerehabilitation-based motor imagery training, Stabilization exercises group
- Keywords
- non-specific low back pain, telerehabilitation, motor imagery
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Telerehabilitation-based motor imagery trainingBehavioural
10 weeks of motor imagery training and stabilization exercises.
Stabilization exercises groupBehavioural
10 weeks of stabilization exercises.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Telerehabilitation-based motor imagery group | Experimental | Behavioral: Telerehabilitation-based motor imagery group Participants in the Telerehabilitation-based motor imagery group will imagine for the lumbar region exercises (e.g. bridges, knee-to-chest stretches, pelvic tilts) in the sessions in home using the study audio-video motor imagery script for 2 times per week; 30 min per day for 10 weeks. Phone calls will be performed for support and as a reminder for the assessment (after one week). In addition, the participants will be given stabilization exercises In addition, the participants will be given stabilization exercises for 10 weeks for 40 minutes, 2 days a week. Receives: Behavioral: Telerehabilitation-based motor imagery training; Behavioral: Stabilization exercises group |
| Stabilization Exercises group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Stabilization Exercises group An exercise program consisting of lumbar stabilization exercises for the participants will be planned for the pelvic ring muscles to develop the neutral lumbar spine. Co-contraction of the transversus abdominus muscle and the multifidus muscle will form the basis of the exercises. Stabilization exercises will be given for 10 weeks for 40 minutes, 2 days a week. Receives: Behavioral: Stabilization exercises group |
| Healthy control group | No intervention | no specific intervention |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Feasibility of the methods - minimum recruitment rate
A minimum recruitment rate of 10 participants per month will be accepted as feasiable.
Measured: through Study Completion, an Average of 10 Months
Feasibility of the methods - minimum retention rate
A target retention rate of 80% will be accepted as feasiable
Measured: through Study Completion, an Average of 10 Months
Feasibility of the methods - minimum adherence rate
A target minimum adherence rate of 70% of the overall practice sessions will be accepted as feasiable.
Measured: through Study Completion, an Average of 10 Months
Feasibility of the methods - adverse events
A record sheet was prepared for possible adverse events during the tests and intervention. It includes information about seriousness, expectedness, severity, causality, time, duration of the event and clinical action taken. The numbers of adverse events will be reported
Measured: through Study Completion, an Average of 10 Months
Secondary outcomes (10)
Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire
The Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire-Short Form consists of 10 movements in total, measuring 5 visual and 5 kinesthetic visualization skills, developed to determine the extent to which individuals visualize and feel the imagined movements. The questionnaire is not a self-report scale, but is administered with an evaluator. All movements are evaluated in the sitting position. Higher scores indicate greater visual clarity or intensity of sensations.
Measured: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised
The Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised assesses visual and kinesthetic movement imagery ability and is comprised of four visual and four kinesthetic items. Each item entails performing a movement, visually or kinesthetically imaging that movement and then rating the ease or difficulty of generating that image on a 7-point scale from 1 = very hard to see/feel to 7 = very easy to see/feel. Higher scores indicate higher visual or kinesthetic movement imagery ability.
Measured: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
Oswestry Disability Questionnaire,
The Oswestry Disability Questionnaire, which allows the patient to self-evaluate, is used to evaluate the limitations that patients compare in daily life. The total score ranges from 0 to 100, and a high score indicates an increased level of disability.
Measured: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
International Physical Activity Questionnaire
It is grouped as Low (Category 1), Medium (Category 2), Very active (Category 3). Calculation is made on a weekly basis as MET level x minutes of activity.
Measured: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
VISUAL ANALOGUE SCALE
Visual analog scale (VAS) is a psychometric response scale which can be used in questionnaires. It is a measurement instrument for subjective characteristics or attitudes that cannot be directly measured. When responding to a VAS item, respondents specify their level of agreement to a statement by indicating a position along a continuous line between two end-points.
Measured: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale- Revised
In this test, the patient is asked to repeat the digits read to him, one second apart, in the same order backwards, starting from the last. The test starts with a two-digit number sequence, and when repeated correctly, one digit is increased and continues until the seventh sequence of eight numbers. The patient must repeat at least one of the two sequences of numbers of the same length in the correct order in order to progress in the test. Scoring is based on the total number of correct and repetitions.
Measured: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
d2 Attention-Tests
The test form consists of 14 lines, each with 47 marked letters. There are 16 letters "p" and "d" marked with one, two, three or four lowercase lines in each line. The patient is asked to find and cross out the letters "d" with only two signs. For each line, the patient is given 20 seconds.
Measured: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
Trail Making Test
The Trail Making test consists of two parts. In Part A, the patient is asked to put together the circles with numbers in the correct order, which are scattered on the test form. In Part B, the patient is asked to combine the circles, which are scattered on the test form and contain both numbers and letters, in the correct order (1-A, 2-B, 3-C).
Measured: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index
The Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index evaluates sleep quality over the past month. 19 of the 24 questions included in the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index are self-report questions. Five questions are answered by the spouse or a roommate. The 18 items participating in the scoring are grouped into 7 component scores. Each item is evaluated over 0-3 points. The sum of the 7 component scores gives the overall Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index score.
Measured: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
SF-36 Short Fotm
The SF-36 has a total of 8 sub-components: physical function, physical role limitation, pain, general perception of health, vitality (energy), social function, emotional role limitation, and mental health. The answers to the questions answered by the participants are scored between 0-100. A high score indicates a good quality of life, and a low score indicates a poor quality of life.
Measured: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Sep 2021
- Study start8 Oct 2022
- Primary completion15 Jul 2025
- Study completion16 Jul 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Motor ImageryStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Izmir Katip Celebi University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Dokuz Eylul University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Muhammed Zahid Uz, Izmir Katip Celebi University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05049772
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 6385-GOAEK
- Status last verified
- Jul 2024
- First submitted
- 8 Sep 2021
- Last updated
- 23 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Uz MZ, Kara B, Gedik Z, Demirdal US. Effectiveness of adding motor imagery to telerehabilitation for nonspecific low back pain: A pilot randomized controlled trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2026 Jul;47:361-370. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2026.04.014. Epub 2026 Apr 29.
PubMed 42264815
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Investigation of the Effects of Telerehabilitation-based Motor Imagery Training in Patients With Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Study.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05049772
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 6385-GOAEK
- Conditions
- Motor Imagery
- Keywords
- non-specific low back pain, telerehabilitation, motor imagery
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Izmir Katip Celebi UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Dokuz Eylul University
- Study start
- 8 Oct 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 16 Jul 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 Sep 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Low back pain is a common problem in society and causes loss of workforce. Its lifetime prevalence reaches 80% and annual hospital admission rates in the adult population reach 15%.Most studies on motor imagery suggested the effects of motor imagery are related to neuroplastic changes in the brain. Studies have shown that similar brain regions are activated during motor imagery and real movement. However, the level of evidence about the effect of motor imagery on autonomic functions is limited. Today, interest in telerehabilitation has increased due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The aim of this study is to examine the effects of telerehabilitation-based motor imagery training in patients with non-specific low back pain.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Telerehabilitation-based motor imagery group | Experimental | Behavioral: Telerehabilitation-based motor imagery training, Behavioral: Stabilization exercises groupBehavioral: Telerehabilitation-based motor imagery group Participants in the Telerehabilitation-based motor imagery group will imagine for the lumbar region exercises (e.g. bridges, knee-to-chest stretches, pelvic tilts) in the sessions in home using the study audio-video motor imagery script for 2 times per week; 30 min per day for 10 weeks. Phone calls will be performed for support and as a reminder for the assessment (after one week). In addition, the participants will be given stabilization exercises In addition, the participants will be given stabilization exercises for 10 weeks for 40 minutes, 2 days a week. |
| Stabilization Exercises group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Stabilization exercises groupBehavioral: Stabilization Exercises group An exercise program consisting of lumbar stabilization exercises for the participants will be planned for the pelvic ring muscles to develop the neutral lumbar spine. Co-contraction of the transversus abdominus muscle and the multifidus muscle will form the basis of the exercises. Stabilization exercises will be given for 10 weeks for 40 minutes, 2 days a week. |
| Healthy control group | No intervention | –no specific intervention |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Those who can read and write
- Patients who have not undergone surgery
- Those with a body mass index less than 30 m2/kg
- To have sufficient computer knowledge to participate in the study or to have a relative who can help in this regard
- Having a computer and active internet connection at home
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Medically uncontrolled and uncooperative patients
- Patients who have undergone surgery to the lumbar region
- History of falling in the last 6 months
- Those with serious orthopedic, vascular, neurological, psychiatric problems affecting balance
- Active malignancy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Telerehabilitation-based motor imagery training10 weeks of motor imagery training and stabilization exercises. | Behavioural | Telerehabilitation-based motor imagery group |
| Stabilization exercises group10 weeks of stabilization exercises. | Behavioural | Stabilization Exercises group, Telerehabilitation-based motor imagery group |
Primary outcome
Feasibility of the methods - minimum recruitment rate
Time frame: through Study Completion, an Average of 10 Months
A minimum recruitment rate of 10 participants per month will be accepted as feasiable.
Feasibility of the methods - minimum retention rate
Time frame: through Study Completion, an Average of 10 Months
A target retention rate of 80% will be accepted as feasiable
Feasibility of the methods - minimum adherence rate
Time frame: through Study Completion, an Average of 10 Months
A target minimum adherence rate of 70% of the overall practice sessions will be accepted as feasiable.
Feasibility of the methods - adverse events
Time frame: through Study Completion, an Average of 10 Months
A record sheet was prepared for possible adverse events during the tests and intervention. It includes information about seriousness, expectedness, severity, causality, time, duration of the event and clinical action taken. The numbers of adverse events will be reported
10 secondary outcomes
Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire
Time frame: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised
Time frame: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
Oswestry Disability Questionnaire,
Time frame: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
International Physical Activity Questionnaire
Time frame: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
VISUAL ANALOGUE SCALE
Time frame: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale- Revised
Time frame: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
d2 Attention-Tests
Time frame: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
Trail Making Test
Time frame: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index
Time frame: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
SF-36 Short Fotm
Time frame: Change from Baseline at 10 Weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Jul 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42264815Uz MZ, Kara B, Gedik Z, Demirdal US. Effectiveness of adding motor imagery to telerehabilitation for nonspecific low back pain: A pilot randomized controlled trial. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2026 Jul;47:361-370. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2026.04.014. Epub 2026 Apr 29.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Telerehabilitation-based motor imagery training and Stabilization exercises group in people with Motor Imagery, run by Izmir Katip Celebi University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Feasibility of the methods - minimum recruitment rate (time frame: through Study Completion, an Average of 10 Months). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05049772, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Jul 2025.