NCT07327190

Motor Imagery and Action Observation Training in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of Motor Imagery and Action Observation Training on Pain, Functionality, Balance and Fear of Movement in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 36 (actual)
• Sponsor: Kutahya Health Sciences University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 25 Years – 85 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This single-center randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of motor imagery and action observation training on pain, functionality, balance, and fear of movement in patients after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The study will be conducted at Simav Doç. Dr. İsmail Karakuyu State Hospital Orthopedics Department with a minimum of 40 participants meeting the inclusion criteria. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) standard physiotherapy, (2) standard physiotherapy plus motor imagery training, or (3) standard physiotherapy plus action observation training. All interventions will last six weeks. Standard physiotherapy will include ankle pumping, active-assisted hip and knee flexion, isometric and stretching exercises, cryotherapy, gait, and stair training. The motor imagery group will perform guided imagery sessions using audio recordings describing the physiotherapy exercises and daily activities. The action observation group will observe exercise videos corresponding to the physiotherapy program. The primary outcomes will include pain, functional level, balance, and kinesiophobia. The study aims to determine whether the addition of mental simulation techniques to standard physiotherapy can enhance postoperative recovery and improve functional outcomes in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

Conditions

• Knee Osteoarthritis
• Knee Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Traditional Physiotherapy	Patients will be given a standard physiotherapy program consisting of 0-2 weeks and 2-6 weeks, with the first week mainly featuring isometric exercises, stretching exercises, and ankle pumping exercises, and the second-6 weeks transitioning to strengthening exercises.
OTHER	Motor imagery training	In addition to standard visual therapy, patients will be sent audio recordings that allow them to visualize movement; they will also be sent nature videos.
OTHER	Action observation training	In this group, in addition to standard physiotherapy, participants will be given videos showing visuals of the movements and will also be sent audio recordings containing nature sounds during the session.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-10-14
• Primary completion: 2026-03-03
• Completion: 2026-05-03
• First posted: 2026-01-08
• Last updated: 2026-01-08

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)