Study on Motor Imagery Training to Improve Pain, Function, and Movement Awareness in Adults with Partial Rotator Cuff Tears

What this Trial Is About

This research investigates how motor imagery training affects pain, function, proprioception, and fear of movement in adults with partial rotator cuff tears. The study compares motor imagery training combined with traditional physiotherapy to traditional physiotherapy alone. The rotator cuff muscles stabilize the shoulder joint, and partial tears can cause pain, movement limits, and muscle weakness. Motor imagery involves mentally simulating movements without physical action and may help improve motor skills and treatment outcomes. Participants are assigned randomly to one of two groups a traditional physiotherapy group or a motor imagery training group. Traditional physiotherapy includes heat application, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, stretching, and strengthening exercises over 20 sessions across 4 weeks. The motor imagery group performs the same exercises combined with kinesthetic and visual motor imagery exercises, with relaxation and attention-enhancing techniques. Imagery is monitored through heart rate, and audio commands guide the sessions. Participants will be evaluated before starting treatment, after 4 weeks of training, and at an 8-week follow-up. Assessments include pain measurement using a numerical scale, shoulder function with the DASH questionnaire, proprioception using an inclinometer, fear of movement via the Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale, and motor imagery ability with the Movement Imagery Questionnaire. The study includes safety and mental status checks, with involvement lasting about 8 weeks from baseline to follow-up evaluation.

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