The Immediate Effect of Mental Imagery on Upper Extremity Skills in Patients with Parkinson's Disease

What this Trial Is About

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder marked by the progressive loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells and characterized by movement problems like slowed movement, tremors, and stiffness. People with PD often face challenges with hand and arm coordination. This research evaluates how mental imagery, which involves imagining movements without actual physical activity, may affect upper limb skills in people with PD. Mental imagery has been effective in improving motor skills in other neurological conditions, and this study aims to explore its immediate effects on planning and initiating upper extremity movements in PD. Participants diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will perform upper extremity skill tests while using mental imagery measured by a mental stopwatch to time the imagined movements. The other group will perform the same tests without mental imagery. The primary intervention involves the Nine-Hole Peg Test conducted with a mental chronometer to compare the time taken for actual versus imagined movements. Throughout the study, participants will undergo a series of assessments on the first day, including the Nine-Hole Peg Test with mental chronometry, muscle strength and grip strength measurements, and cognitive and motor evaluations such as the Mini Mental State Examination and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. Researchers will also use questionnaires to assess imagery ability. The study is designed to monitor upper extremity motor skills and the immediate effects of mental imagery, with involvement lasting for the initial assessment day.

Mental Imagery on Upper Extremity Skills