Elderly (People Aged 65 or More)
Conditions
Keywords
imagery, Mirror Neurons, exercise
Brief summary
The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of acute action observation, motor imagery, exercise, and combined exercise training on parameters such as balance, reaction time, flexibility, fear of falling, cognitive status, attention, and memory in older adults.
Detailed description
Previous studies investigating motor imagery and action observation training have examined their long-term effects in both young and older adults. Existing evidence regarding the benefits of exercise training indicates positive effects in both populations. However, the number of studies focusing on the acute effects of motor imagery and action observation training in the literature is very limited. Individuals who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned-using the Research Randomizer application-into five groups: motor imagery, action observation, exercise, combined exercise, and control group. A total of 50 participants, with 10 individuals in each group, will be included in the study. Assessments will be conducted before and after the intervention.
Interventions
OTHERMotor İmagery Group
Participants will engage in a motor imagery exercise program consisting of 5 minutes of warm-up, 20 minutes of motor imagery, and 5 minutes of cool-down, totaling 30 minutes. The intervention will be administered in three sessions per week for one week.
OTHERAction Observation Group
Participants will receive an action observation training program delivered by researchers, including 5 minutes of warm-up, 20 minutes of action observation, and 5 minutes of cool-down, totaling 30 minutes. The intervention will be administered in three sessions per week for one week.
OTHERExercise Group
Participants will perform a standard physical exercise program. The session will last 30 minutes, including warm-up, exercise, and cool-down phases. The intervention will be administered in three sessions per week for one week.
OTHERCombined Group (Motor Imagery + Action Observation+Exercise)
articipants will engage in a combined motor imagery and action observation program for a total of 30 minutes, incorporating elements of both interventions. The intervention will be administered in three sessions per week for one week.
Sponsors
Dokuz Eylul University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
The study will be conducted as a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of five groups, and outcome assessments will be performed by an evaluator who is blinded to group assignments.
Intervention model description
Participants will be divided into five groups: a motor imagery group, an action observation group, an exercise group, a combined exercise group, and a control group.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
65 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Being aged 65 years or older, Female gender, Literate in Turkish, Scoring 21 or above on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Version 7.1, No health conditions that would prevent participation in exercise
Exclusion criteria
* Presence of serious health problems that would prevent participation in the study (e.g., trauma, cancer, surgery, severe cardiac or musculoskeletal disorders) Participation in other intervention trials or observational studies during the intervention period, or initiation of a physical exercise program within 2 weeks following the intervention period Any medical condition or chronic medication use that may jeopardize safety or affect cognitive functions (e.g., neuroleptics)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test | 2 weeks | The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is a simple and widely used clinical test to assess functional mobility, balance, and fall risk in older adults. It measures the time it takes for an individual to stand up from a chair, walk three meters, turn around, walk back, and sit down. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) | 2 weeks | The 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) is a standardized assessment used to measure walking speed over a short distance. It evaluates functional mobility, gait performance, and lower extremity motor function by recording the time taken to walk a distance of 10 meters at a comfortable or maximum pace. |
| Computerized Serial Reaction Time Test (SRTT) | 2 weeks | The Computerized Serial Reaction Time Test (SRTT) is a cognitive-motor task used to assess implicit motor learning, reaction time, and attention. In this test, participants respond as quickly and accurately as possible to visual stimuli that appear in a specific sequence on a computer screen, allowing for the measurement of both response speed and learning patterns |
| Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST) | 2 weeks | The Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST) is a simple and reliable clinical assessment used to evaluate lower limb muscle strength, functional mobility, and fall risk. It measures the time it takes for an individual to rise from a chair and sit back down five times as quickly as possible without using their arms for support |
| Back Scratch Test | 2 weeks | The Back Scratch Test is a flexibility assessment used to measure the range of motion and flexibility of the upper body, particularly the shoulders. It involves reaching one hand over the shoulder and the other behind the back to see how close the fingers can come to each other, or whether they overlap. |
| Functional Reach Test (FRT) | 2 weeks | The Functional Reach Test (FRT) is a clinical assessment tool used to evaluate dynamic balance and stability. It measures the maximum distance an individual can reach forward beyond arm's length while standing in a fixed position without losing balance or taking a step. |
| Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) | 2 weeks | The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a widely used screening tool designed to detect mild cognitive impairment. It assesses various cognitive domains including attention, executive functions, memory, language, visuospatial skills, and orientation. The test provides a total score out of 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive performance. |
| Trail Making Test | 2 weeks | The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a neuropsychological assessment used to evaluate visual attention, processing speed, and executive function. It consists of two parts: Part A requires connecting numbered dots in sequence, while Part B involves alternating between numbers and letters in order. The time taken to complete each part is recorded, with longer times indicating potential cognitive impairment |
| Verbal Memory Processes Test | 2 weeks | The Verbal Memory Processes Test is a neuropsychological assessment designed to evaluate various aspects of verbal memory, including encoding, storage, and retrieval of verbal information. It typically involves tasks such as recalling word lists, story recall, or recognizing verbal stimuli to assess immediate and delayed memory performance |
| Falls Efficacy Scale International, FES-I | 2 weeks | The Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) is a validated questionnaire designed to assess fear of falling in older adults. It measures the level of concern individuals have about falling during a range of daily activities, both inside and outside the home. Higher scores indicate greater fear of falling. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
Primary ContactTolunay Keskin, Phd Student
Backup ContactNursen İlçin, Professor
Outcome results
None listed