Effect of Motor Imagery Training on Pain, Functionality, Proprioception and Kinesiophobia in Partial Rotator Cuff Tear

April 20, 2026 updated by: Sevtap Cakir, Kutahya Health Sciences University

Effect of Motor Imagery Training on Pain, Functionality, Proprioception and Kinesiophobia in Patients With Partial Rotator Cuff Tears

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of motor imagery training on pain, functionality, proprioception and kinesiophobia in patients with partial rotator cuff tears. Participants will be randomly assigned to traditional physiotherapy and motor imagery groups. Interventions will be performed with a physiotherapist for a total of 20 sessions for 4 weeks, 5 days a week. The intervention program will be determined by the Specialist Physical Therapy Physician. Data will be collected before the study, at the end of the training in the 4th week and at the 8th week (follow-up evaluation). Motor imagery ability will be assessed with the Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-R), pain will be assessed with the Numerical Assessment Scale for functionality with the DASH, proprioception will be assessed with the inclinometer and kinesiophobia will be assessed with the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

One of the most common pathologies related to the shoulder joint, which has a wide range of motion, is the tears of varying degrees in the rotator cuff muscles. The rotator cuff muscles consist of the dynamic stabilizers of the shoulder: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis and teres minor muscles. Pathologies related to the rotator cuff can present as simple overuse, impingement syndrome, partial tear, full-thickness tear and, in the advanced stage of the tear, rotator cuff tear arthropathy. Such tears can usually occur due to injuries and traumas, degeneration due to aging, overuse or repetitive movements. The main symptoms of a partial rotator cuff tear are increased shoulder pain during overhead movements, limited movement, muscle weakness and loss of function. Partial rotator cuff tear is usually diagnosed with physical examination and imaging techniques such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), ultrasonography, and X-ray. The treatment approach varies depending on the size of the tear, the patient's symptoms, and lifestyle, and is divided into conservative treatments and surgical techniques. Motor imagery is the individual's conscious simulation of the movement without any motor output. Motor imagery contributes to the improvement of motor performance and the learning of new motor skills. Motor imagery is divided into two as visual and kinesthetic imagery. While visual imagery consists of visualizing the movement, kinesthetic imagery focuses on the position of the muscles and limbs and the somatic sensations created by their movement. Studies combining motor imagery with classical physiotherapy training show that it increases the effectiveness of the treatment.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
80

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Sevtap CAKIR, Asst. Prof.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Partial rotator cuff tear diagnosis.
  • Between the ages of 18-65
  • Patients experiencing pain for at least 4 weeks.
  • Having a valid score on the Mini Mental Test (>24)
  • Those without a history of any neurological or serious psychological illness.
  • Those who have not participated in a previous study on motor imagery training

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Complete rotator cuff tear or conditions requiring surgical intervention,
  • Participants who have received treatment with corticosteroids by any means in the previous 6 months,
  • Participants who have a rotator cuff tear due to acute traumatic conditions (proximal humerus fracture).

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Control Group (Traditional Physiotherapy)
Traditional physical therapy will begin with the application of Hotpack, Tens and Ultrasound to the painful area for five minutes. Then, stretching exercises will be performed at the pain limit for the six main shoulder movements in the shoulder joint. Then, wand exercises, pendulum exercises, isometric exercises for the shoulder joint and strengthening active exercises will be given in order to increase the normal range of motion in the shoulder joint. The six main shoulder movements will be actively performed (flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, medial and lateral rotations). After the 5th session, weights will be added according to the patient's condition.
Other: Traditional Physiotherapy
Hotpack, Tens and Ultrasound application
Experimental: Motor Imagery Training
In motor imagery training, exercises in traditional physiotherapy will be applied with kinesthetic and visual motor imagery. Each movement will be divided into five sets consisting of two trials separated by 10 repetitions and 30-second rest periods. It will also be emphasized through practice that the functional movement imagined and the times when this movement is actually actively performed should be similar. Individuals' eyes will be closed throughout the entire motor imagery training. At the very beginning of the session, a relaxation exercise lasting approximately 5 minutes will be performed in order to maximize attention during motor imagery. Whether or not individuals are performing imagery will be monitored by monitoring heart rate variables from autonomic functions. In order to ensure standardization during imagery, commands will be applied with audio recordings containing metaphors.
Other: Motor Imagery Training
Kinesthetic and visual motor imagery will be applied.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Standardized Mini Mental Test
Time Frame: a day before the rehabilitation
The Standardized Mini Mental Test is a short, efficient and standard method that can be preferred in determining the cognitive level of the individual. It is collected under five headings: orientation, recording memory, attention and calculation, recall and language. There are eleven items that individuals will answer. It is evaluated out of a total of 30 points. The threshold value was determined as 24 points in the Turkish validity and reliability study.
a day before the rehabilitation
Numerical Rating Scale
Time Frame: a day before the rehabilitation
Pain intensity will be measured using the Numerical Rating Scale. A decrease in the point indicates that the pain is decreasing.
a day before the rehabilitation
Numerical Rating Scale
Time Frame: up to 4 weeks
Pain intensity will be measured using the Numerical Rating Scale. A decrease in the point indicates that the pain is decreasing.
up to 4 weeks
Numerical Rating Scale
Time Frame: up to 8 weeks
Pain intensity will be measured using the Numerical Rating Scale. A decrease in the point indicates that the pain is decreasing.
up to 8 weeks
Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand
Time Frame: a day before the rehabilitation
Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand scale is a questionnaire developed to assess the musculoskeletal pathology of the upper extremity and the entire upper extremity in general. It consists of 30 questions that evaluate the degree of difficulty in performing different activities using the upper extremity in daily life in the last week (21 questions), symptoms consisting of pain, activity-related pain, numbness, joint stiffness and weakness (5 questions), and the effects of pathologies on social life, sleep, work and psychological status (4 questions). All questions have a 5-point Likert model (1: no difficulty, 2: mild difficulty, 3: moderate difficulty, 4: extreme difficulty, 5: completely unable to do). The Turkish version of the DASH Questionnaire was used.
a day before the rehabilitation
Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand
Time Frame: up to 4 weeks
Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand scale is a questionnaire developed to assess the musculoskeletal pathology of the upper extremity and the entire upper extremity in general. It consists of 30 questions that evaluate the degree of difficulty in performing different activities using the upper extremity in daily life in the last week (21 questions), symptoms consisting of pain, activity-related pain, numbness, joint stiffness and weakness (5 questions), and the effects of pathologies on social life, sleep, work and psychological status (4 questions). All questions have a 5-point Likert model (1: no difficulty, 2: mild difficulty, 3: moderate difficulty, 4: extreme difficulty, 5: completely unable to do). The Turkish version of the DASH Questionnaire was used.
up to 4 weeks
Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand
Time Frame: up to 8 weeks
Disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand scale is a questionnaire developed to assess the musculoskeletal pathology of the upper extremity and the entire upper extremity in general. It consists of 30 questions that evaluate the degree of difficulty in performing different activities using the upper extremity in daily life in the last week (21 questions), symptoms consisting of pain, activity-related pain, numbness, joint stiffness and weakness (5 questions), and the effects of pathologies on social life, sleep, work and psychological status (4 questions). All questions have a 5-point Likert model (1: no difficulty, 2: mild difficulty, 3: moderate difficulty, 4: extreme difficulty, 5: completely unable to do). The Turkish version of the DASH Questionnaire was used.
up to 8 weeks
Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale
Time Frame: a day before the rehabilitation
The Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale will be used. A 4-point Likert scale is used and the total score is 33. The higher a person's score on the scale, the greater their fear of movement.
a day before the rehabilitation
Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale
Time Frame: up to 4 weeks
The Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale will be used. A 4-point Likert scale is used and the total score is 33. The higher a person's score on the scale, the greater their fear of movement.
up to 4 weeks
Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale
Time Frame: up to 8 weeks
The Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale will be used. A 4-point Likert scale is used and the total score is 33. The higher a person's score on the scale, the greater their fear of movement.
up to 8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-R)
Time Frame: a day before the rehabilitation
This is an 8-item self-report questionnaire in which participants rate the vividness of their mental representations using a 7-point scale (1 = very difficult to see/feel and 7 = very easy to see/feel). This test will be used to ensure that the sample does not include individuals with extremely high or low motor imagery ability
a day before the rehabilitation
Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-R)
Time Frame: up to 4 weeks
This is an 8-item self-report questionnaire in which participants rate the vividness of their mental representations using a 7-point scale (1 = very difficult to see/feel and 7 = very easy to see/feel). This test will be used to ensure that the sample does not include individuals with extremely high or low motor imagery ability
up to 4 weeks
Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-R)
Time Frame: up to 8 weeks
This is an 8-item self-report questionnaire in which participants rate the vividness of their mental representations using a 7-point scale (1 = very difficult to see/feel and 7 = very easy to see/feel). This test will be used to ensure that the sample does not include individuals with extremely high or low motor imagery ability
up to 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Kutahya Health Sciences University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 16, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 3, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 3, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 9, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 9, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 13, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 23, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 20, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • KSBU-RC

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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