NCT07418970

Effects of Action Observation Therapy in Geriatric Individuals

Investigating the Effects of Action Observation Therapy on Cognitive Function, Balance, Fatigue, and Functional Capacity in Geriatric Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 162 (actual)
• Sponsor: Hasan Kalyoncu University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 65 Years – 85 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of Action Observation Therapy (AOT) on cognitive function, balance, fatigue, and functional capacity in geriatric individuals. Participants aged 65 years and older were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group, an exercise group, or an action observation therapy group. The intervention period lasted 8 weeks. The exercise group received a conventional exercise program, while the action observation therapy group watched exercise videos before performing the same exercises. The control group did not participate in any structured exercise program during the study period. Outcome measures included cognitive function, balance performance, fatigue levels, and functional capacity. The study evaluated whether adding action observation therapy to conventional exercise provides additional benefits in older adults.

Detailed description

This study is a three-arm randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effects of Action Observation Therapy (AOT) on cognitive function, balance, fatigue, and functional capacity in geriatric individuals aged 65 years and older. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) a control group that did not receive any structured exercise intervention during the study period, (2) an exercise group that participated in a conventional exercise program, and (3) an action observation therapy group that watched exercise demonstration videos prior to performing the same conventional exercise program. The intervention period lasted 8 weeks. The conventional exercise program included balance, strengthening, and functional mobility exercises appropriate for older adults. The action observation therapy group observed standardized exercise videos to facilitate motor learning before actively performing the exercises. Primary and secondary outcome measures included cognitive function (e.g., Montreal Cognitive Assessment), balance performance (e.g., Timed Up and Go Test and One-Leg Stand Test), fatigue levels (e.g., Fatigue Severity Scale), and functional capacity (e.g., 6-Minute Walk Test). Assessments were performed at baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention period. The primary objective of the study was to determine whether adding action observation therapy to conventional exercise provides additional benefits in cognitive and functional outcomes in geriatric individuals.

Conditions

• Cognitive Function
• Balance Impairment
• Fatigue
• Aging

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Action	exercise
OTHER	Action Observation Therapy	Based on exercise recommendations for older adults from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the researcher developed a conventional exercise training programme suitable for participants aged 65 and over, incorporating balance, strength and flexibility exercises. In parallel, an action observation therapy exercise video recording was prepared for the experimental group participants. The exercises were easy to learn, not complex in terms of memory and performance, performed standing up without sitting down, and progressed from easy to difficult. The exercise programme was carried out for a total of 16 sessions over four weeks, with 8 repetitions per set for the first four weeks and 12 repetitions per set for the next four weeks, for 30-45 minutes, twice a week. Participants in the control group were informed that they would be enrolled in their preferred exercise programme afterwards, and no exercise programme was implemented throughout the study. The same exercise program

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-01-01
• Primary completion: 2025-10-01
• Completion: 2025-11-05
• First posted: 2026-02-18
• Last updated: 2026-02-18

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)