An interventional study of Motor Imagery Practice and Action Observation Practice in Motor Skill Learning, sponsored by Antalya Bilim University. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 19 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-16.
Sponsored by Antalya Bilim University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
his randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of action observation and motor imagery on short- and long-term learning of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) skills, perceived mental fatigue, and task difficulty in physiotherapy students.
A total of 24 second-year physiotherapy students will be randomly allocated to three groups: motor imagery, action observation, and conventional learning (control). PNF performance will be assessed using performance scores and task completion time immediately after the intervention, 1 hour later, and 24 hours later.
This single-blind, randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of action observation and motor imagery on the short- and long-term learning of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) skills in physiotherapy students.
A total of 24 second-year physiotherapy students will be randomly allocated to three parallel groups (n=8 per group): motor imagery, action observation, and conventional learning (control). All participants will receive standardized instructions regarding the selected PNF task before the intervention.
The motor imagery group will mentally rehearse the PNF movements from a first-person perspective without physical execution. The action observation group will observe a video demonstration of the PNF task performed by a physiotherapist. The control group will physically practice the PNF task under physiotherapist supervision. Each intervention will consist of 10 repetitions lasting 60 seconds, with a one-minute rest period after every two repetitions.
PNF performance will be assessed using performance scores and task completion time at three time points: immediately post-intervention (T0), 1 hour post-intervention (T1), and 24 hours post-intervention (T2). Performance will be video-recorded and evaluated by an experienced physiotherapist blinded to group allocation.
Perceived mental fatigue and task difficulty will be assessed using visual analog scales (VAS). Motor imagery ability will also be evaluated using the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) and mental chronometry.
The study aims to determine whether action observation and motor imagery provide benefits for PNF skill acquisition and retention compared with conventional learning.
Antalya Bilim University is the lead sponsor of 15 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Participants will mentally rehearse the PNF task from a first-person perspective without physically performing the movements.
Behavioral: Motor Imagery Practice
Participants will observe a video demonstration of the PNF task performed by a physiotherapist without physically executing the movements.
Behavioral: Action Observation Practice
Participants will physically practice the PNF task under the guidance of a physiotherapist using the conventional learning approach.
Behavioral: Conventional PNF Practice
Participants will mentally rehearse the PNF task from a first-person perspective without physical execution.
Participants will observe a video demonstration of the PNF task performed by a physiotherapist without physically executing the movements.
Participants will physically practice the PNF task under the supervision of a physiotherapist using the conventional learning approach.
PNF Performance Score
PNF skills will be evaluated using a performance scoring checklist (0-14 points), with higher scores indicating better performance.
Time frame: Immediately, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-intervention
PNF Task Completion Time
Time required to complete the PNF task, measured in seconds.
Time frame: Immediately, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-intervention
Perceived Mental Fatigue
Perceived mental fatigue will be assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 (no mental fatigue) to 10 (maximum imaginable mental fatigue). Participants will be asked to mark the point on the line that best represents their perceived level of mental fatigue. Higher scores indicate greater perceived mental fatigue (worse outcome).
Time frame: Immediately, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-intervention
Perceived Task Difficulty
Perceived task difficulty will be assessed using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (no difficulty) to 10 (maximum imaginable difficulty). Participants will mark their perceived task difficulty on the scale, and the distance from the left endpoint to the mark will be measured in centimeters. Higher scores indicate greater perceived task difficulty (worse outcome).
Time frame: Immediately, 1 hour, and 24 hours post-intervention
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Start is estimated for Oct 2026; primary completion for Nov 2026, 1 month later.
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From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Antalya Bilim University