NCT06088173

The Effects of Graded Motor Imagery Training Program in Patients With Flexor Tendon Repair

The Effects of Graded Motor Imagery Training Before and After the Rehabilitation Program in Patients With Flexor Tendon Repair

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 26 (actual)
• Sponsor: Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of graded motor imagery training applied during the immobilization period on hand functions, range of motion, proprioception and kinesiophobia before and after the rehabilitation program in patients with flexor tendon repair.

Detailed description

After flexor tendon repair, conditions such as limitation of joint movement in the injured finger, contracture, decreased proprioception, decreased hand function and skills during activities of daily living may occur due to one or more reasons. Various protocols have been applied in rehabilitation after flexor tendon repair, but the search for new treatment methods to achieve the best results continues. In this study, our aim is to reorganize the cortex and incorporate graded motor imagery training, which has been proven to be more effective in the treatment of chronic pain but promising in terms of increasing body awareness, proprioception and function, into flexor tendon rehabilitation to provide flexor tendon repair patients with more functional results and to contribute to the search for new treatment methods in the literature. The participants who volunteered to take part in the study will be randomly divided into two groups, namely the Early passive mobilization group (Group 1) and the graded motor imagery (GMI) training (Group 2) using a computerassisted randomization program. After the groups are assigned, Group 1 will receive Modified Kleinert protocol and Group 2 will receive GMI training in addition to Modified Kleinert protocol with the help of hand recognize mobile application. A total of 6 weeks of treatment will be applied. GMI will be taught in sessions and practice will be continued at home. Both groups will use a short modified Kleinert splint for postoperatif 6 weeks. This splint does not allow the use of the hand but allows passive flexion and active extension with the help of a tire. GMI training will be given and practiced as soon as rehabilitation starts. The progression will be 2 weeks lateralization 2 weeks imagery 2 weeks mirror therapy and when the splint is removed at the end of postop 6 weeks. In the remaining sessions, standard rehabilitation will be continued in both groups.

Conditions

• Flexor Tendon Repair

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	exercises	Patients in both group will use Kleinert splint. Sessions will start with ice application if there is edema and continue with scar tissue massage. After general hand massage, passive flexion, active extension exercises; tenodesis exercise and passive punch will be performed for the postoperative (postop) first two weeks. In postop 3-4 weeks, four finger sliding exercises, active half fist and NMES (Neuromuscular electrical stimulation) will be performed. In postop 5-6 weeks, blocking exercises, full punch, grappling hooks and small on-digits holding and releasing exercises will be performed additionally.
OTHER	Exercises and Education	In addition to the same treatment as the patients in the first group, in the first postoperative (postop) two weeks, the gmi will be explained to the patients and lateralization will be started. lateralization refers to right-left discrimination and the patients will be presented with visuals with the help of the noi recognise app and they will have to decide whether the visual is right or left hand. In the postop 3-4th weeks, the motor imagery stage will be started and imagery will be practiced with the help of the same app. In postop 5-6 weeks, mirror therapy will be practiced with the help of a mirror box.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-12-15
• Primary completion: 2024-05-30
• Completion: 2024-05-30
• First posted: 2023-10-18
• Last updated: 2024-12-04

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)