Motor Skill LearningNCT07873515
Effects of Action Observation and Motor Imagery on PNF Skill Learning in Physiotherapy Students
A study testing Motor Imagery Practice, Action Observation Practice and Conventional PNF Practice in people with Motor Skill Learning, run by Antalya Bilim University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
his randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of action observation and motor imagery on short- and long-term learning of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) skills, perceived mental fatigue, and task difficulty in physiotherapy students. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 19 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Motor Skill Learning
- What is being tested?
- Motor Imagery Practice, Action Observation Practice and Conventional PNF Practice
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 24 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 12 Oct 2026to 12 Nov 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 19 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Being older than 18 years.
- Being a second-year student in the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at Antalya Bilim University.
- Being able to speak and understand Turkish.
Who cannot join
- Having a neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, or metabolic disease that prevents participation in the study.
- Experiencing any pain at the time of the study.
- Having previously participated in a study investigating motor imagery.
- Using medications that affect attention or alertness.
- Having a psychological disorder that affects attention or alertness.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Antalya Bilim University
Antalya, Antalya, 07190
Merve Ünal, MSc, 02422450000/3314, merveunal@antalya.edu.tr
About this study
Official title: The Effects of Action Observation and Motor Imagery on Short- and Long-Term Learning of PNF Skills, and on Perceived Fatigue and Task Difficulty
his randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of action observation and motor imagery on short- and long-term learning of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) skills, perceived mental fatigue, and task difficulty in physiotherapy students.
A total of 24 second-year physiotherapy students will be randomly allocated to three groups: motor imagery, action observation, and conventional learning (control). PNF performance will be assessed using performance scores and task completion time immediately after the intervention, 1 hour later, and 24 hours later.
Read the detailed description
This single-blind, randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of action observation and motor imagery on the short- and long-term learning of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) skills in physiotherapy students.
A total of 24 second-year physiotherapy students will be randomly allocated to three parallel groups (n=8 per group): motor imagery, action observation, and conventional learning (control). All participants will receive standardized instructions regarding the selected PNF task before the intervention.
The motor imagery group will mentally rehearse the PNF movements from a first-person perspective without physical execution. The action observation group will observe a video demonstration of the PNF task performed by a physiotherapist. The control group will physically practice the PNF task under physiotherapist supervision. Each intervention will consist of 10 repetitions lasting 60 seconds, with a one-minute rest period after every two repetitions.
PNF performance will be assessed using performance scores and task completion time at three time points: immediately post-intervention (T0), 1 hour post-intervention (T1), and 24 hours post-intervention (T2). Performance will be video-recorded and evaluated by an experienced physiotherapist blinded to group allocation.
Perceived mental fatigue and task difficulty will be assessed using visual analog scales (VAS). Motor imagery ability will also be evaluated using the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) and mental chronometry.
The study aims to determine whether action observation and motor imagery provide benefits for PNF skill acquisition and retention compared with conventional learning.
- Conditions
- Motor Skill Learning
- Being tested
- Motor Imagery Practice, Action Observation Practice, Conventional PNF Practice
- Keywords
- Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, Motor Imagery, Action Observation, Motor Learning, Physiotherapy Education, Skill Retention
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Motor Imagery PracticeBehavioural
Participants will mentally rehearse the PNF task from a first-person perspective without physical execution.
Action Observation PracticeBehavioural
Participants will observe a video demonstration of the PNF task performed by a physiotherapist without physically executing the movements.
Conventional PNF PracticeBehavioural
Participants will physically practice the PNF task under the supervision of a physiotherapist using the conventional learning approach.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Imagery Group | Experimental | Participants will mentally rehearse the PNF task from a first-person perspective without physically performing the movements. Receives: Behavioral: Motor Imagery Practice |
| Action Observation Group | Experimental | Participants will observe a video demonstration of the PNF task performed by a physiotherapist without physically executing the movements. Receives: Behavioral: Action Observation Practice |
| Conventional Learning Group | Active comparator | Participants will physically practice the PNF task under the guidance of a physiotherapist using the conventional learning approach. Receives: Behavioral: Conventional PNF Practice |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
PNF Performance Score
PNF skills will be evaluated using a performance scoring checklist (0-14 points), with higher scores indicating better performance.
Measured: Immediately, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-intervention
PNF Task Completion Time
Time required to complete the PNF task, measured in seconds.
Measured: Immediately, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-intervention
Secondary outcomes (2)
Perceived Mental Fatigue
Perceived mental fatigue will be assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 (no mental fatigue) to 10 (maximum imaginable mental fatigue). Participants will be asked to mark the point on the line that best represents their perceived level of mental fatigue. Higher scores indicate greater perceived mental fatigue (worse outcome).
Measured: Immediately, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-intervention
Perceived Task Difficulty
Perceived task difficulty will be assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (no difficulty) to 10 (maximum imaginable difficulty). Participants will mark their perceived task difficulty on the scale, and the distance from the left endpoint to the mark will be measured in centimeters. Higher scores indicate greater perceived task difficulty (worse outcome).
Measured: Immediately, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Oct 2026
- Study start12 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion12 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion12 Nov 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Motor Skill LearningStudies 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
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned to three parallel groups: motor imagery, action observation, and conventional learning (control), with eight participants in each group.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Antalya Bilim University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Merve Ünal, MSc, Principal investigator, Antalya Bilim University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07873515
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ABU-FTR-PNF-2026
- Other IDs
- 2025/114
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 8 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effects of Action Observation and Motor Imagery on Short- and Long-Term Learning of PNF Skills, and on Perceived Fatigue and Task Difficulty
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07873515
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ABU-FTR-PNF-2026
- Conditions
- Motor Skill Learning
- Keywords
- Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, Motor Imagery, Action Observation, Motor Learning, Physiotherapy Education, Skill Retention
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Antalya Bilim UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 12 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 12 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 12 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 14 Oct 2026 (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.
his randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of action observation and motor imagery on short- and long-term learning of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) skills, perceived mental fatigue, and task difficulty in physiotherapy students.
A total of 24 second-year physiotherapy students will be randomly allocated to three groups: motor imagery, action observation, and conventional learning (control). PNF performance will be assessed using performance scores and task completion time immediately after the intervention, 1 hour later, and 24 hours later.
Detailed description
This single-blind, randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of action observation and motor imagery on the short- and long-term learning of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) skills in physiotherapy students.
A total of 24 second-year physiotherapy students will be randomly allocated to three parallel groups (n=8 per group): motor imagery, action observation, and conventional learning (control). All participants will receive standardized instructions regarding the selected PNF task before the intervention.
The motor imagery group will mentally rehearse the PNF movements from a first-person perspective without physical execution. The action observation group will observe a video demonstration of the PNF task performed by a physiotherapist. The control group will physically practice the PNF task under physiotherapist supervision. Each intervention will consist of 10 repetitions lasting 60 seconds, with a one-minute rest period after every two repetitions.
PNF performance will be assessed using performance scores and task completion time at three time points: immediately post-intervention (T0), 1 hour post-intervention (T1), and 24 hours post-intervention (T2). Performance will be video-recorded and evaluated by an experienced physiotherapist blinded to group allocation.
Perceived mental fatigue and task difficulty will be assessed using visual analog scales (VAS). Motor imagery ability will also be evaluated using the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) and mental chronometry.
The study aims to determine whether action observation and motor imagery provide benefits for PNF skill acquisition and retention compared with conventional learning.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned to three parallel groups: motor imagery, action observation, and conventional learning (control), with eight participants in each group.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Imagery Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Motor Imagery PracticeParticipants will mentally rehearse the PNF task from a first-person perspective without physically performing the movements. |
| Action Observation Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Action Observation PracticeParticipants will observe a video demonstration of the PNF task performed by a physiotherapist without physically executing the movements. |
| Conventional Learning Group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Conventional PNF PracticeParticipants will physically practice the PNF task under the guidance of a physiotherapist using the conventional learning approach. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 19 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Being older than 18 years.
- Being a second-year student in the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at Antalya Bilim University.
- Being able to speak and understand Turkish.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Having a neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, or metabolic disease that prevents participation in the study.
- Experiencing any pain at the time of the study.
- Having previously participated in a study investigating motor imagery.
- Using medications that affect attention or alertness.
- Having a psychological disorder that affects attention or alertness.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Imagery PracticeParticipants will mentally rehearse the PNF task from a first-person perspective without physical execution. | Behavioural | Motor Imagery Group |
| Action Observation PracticeParticipants will observe a video demonstration of the PNF task performed by a physiotherapist without physically executing the movements. | Behavioural | Action Observation Group |
| Conventional PNF PracticeParticipants will physically practice the PNF task under the supervision of a physiotherapist using the conventional learning approach. | Behavioural | Conventional Learning Group |
Primary outcome
PNF Performance Score
Time frame: Immediately, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-intervention
PNF skills will be evaluated using a performance scoring checklist (0-14 points), with higher scores indicating better performance.
PNF Task Completion Time
Time frame: Immediately, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-intervention
Time required to complete the PNF task, measured in seconds.
2 secondary outcomes
Perceived Mental Fatigue
Time frame: Immediately, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-intervention
Perceived Task Difficulty
Time frame: Immediately, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-intervention
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
Merve Ünal, MSc principal investigator
Antalya Bilim University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Motor Imagery Practice, Action Observation Practice and Conventional PNF Practice in people with Motor Skill Learning, run by Antalya Bilim 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 3 inclusion and 5 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Oct 2026. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Merve Ünal, MSc (02422450000/3314, merveunal@antalya.edu.tr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
PNF Performance Score (time frame: Immediately, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-intervention). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 16 Oct 2026.