None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Motor imagery is an imagining of an action without its physical execution; it is a dynamic state during which the representation of a given motor act is internally rehearsed or imagined within working memory without any overt muscle activation. Motor imagery activates brain regions that are activated during actual task performance and motor imagery training has been found to improve task performance. Motor imagery has been found to improve static balance in the elderly but its effect on strength and mobility in older adults is unknown. The aim of this study is to determine whether imagining certain movements over a four week period promotes improvements in strength and mobility. It is hypothesised that motor imagery will lead to small improvements in strength and mobility.
Interventions
Motor imagery (mental practice). Participants in the motor imagery group will undertake 15 minutes of motor imagery practice five days per week for four weeks (20 sessions in total). The motor imagery training will be guided by pre-recorded audio files uploaded onto a portable musci player. The audio files will be designed specifically for this study. The motor imagery tasks will relate to muscle contractions and everyday weight bearing movements. The movements will relate to tasks such as risin
Motor imagery (mental practice). Participants in the motor imagery group will undertake 15 minutes of motor imagery practice five days per week for four weeks (20 sessions in total). The motor imagery training will be guided by pre-recorded audio files uploaded onto a portable musci player. The audio files will be designed specifically for this study. The motor imagery tasks will relate to muscle contractions and everyday weight bearing movements. The movements will relate to tasks such as rising from a chair, walking and turning. The training will be unsupervised, except for the first session when it will be supervised by a physiotherapist. Adherence will monitored by a patient diary and also by the number of times a track has been played on the audio device. After four weeks, outcome measures will be re-assessed and then those in the intervention group will crossover to the control group for four weeks before a final re-assessment.
Sponsors
Australian Catholic University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Crossover
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Aged at least 65 years Independent community dwelling and willing to be randomised and commit to the study requirements
Exclusion criteria
Impaired cognition (MMSE <24/30) Profound hearing loss Acute or terminal illness Unstable or ongoing cardiovascular and/or respiratory disorder, neurological disease or impairment, joint replacement surgery in the past six months, or the inability to commit to a period of time equivalent to the duration of the study
Outcome results
None listed