Low Back PainNCT06859645
Motor Imagery Training in Non-Specific Low Back Pain
A study testing Motor imagey training and Exercise training in people with Low Back Pain, run by Istanbul Bilgi University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Low back pain is a significant global health issue, affecting a large proportion of the population at some point in their lives. Among the different types of low back pain, non-specific low back pain is the most common. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 55 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Low Back Pain
- What is being tested?
- Motor imagey training and Exercise training
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 32 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 5 Mar 2025to 12 Aug 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 55 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Being between 18 and 55 years old
- Having a history of low back pain persisting for at least three months
- Experiencing recurrent episodes of low back pain
- Having a low back pain intensity score of 4 or higher on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS) out of 10 during both rest and activity
- Having the ability to use a computer, tablet, or smartphone at a level sufficient to participate in assessments and treatment sessions via videoconference, or having a caregiver who can assist with this
- Volunteering to participate in the study
- Being able to read and understand Turkish
Who cannot join
- A history of spinal surgery
- Having traumatic low back injuries
- Presence of severe comorbidities (neurological, neuromuscular, cardiological, psychiatric)
- Presence of tumoral conditions
- Having visual or hearing impairments
- Presence of cognitive impairments
Show all 10Show fewer
- Receiving physiotherapy for low back pain within the last six months
- Changes in pain medication within the last two months
- Receiving additional treatments beyond routine care
- Being pregnant
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effects of Telerehabilitation-Based Motor Imagery Training on Pain, Trunk Endurance, Functional Capacity, and Psychosocial Parameters in People With Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Low back pain is a significant global health issue, affecting a large proportion of the population at some point in their lives. Among the different types of low back pain, non-specific low back pain is the most common. Chronic low back pain has been shown to impact trunk endurance, functional capacity, fatigue, anxiety, and depression levels.
Neuroscience-based studies aimed at improving pain management have demonstrated that chronic pain is associated with not only peripheral changes but also central changes. These central changes include abnormalities in the distribution of sensory cortical processing, disinhibition of the motor cortex, and disturbances in body schema perception.
Read more
Studies have shown that motor imagery training, defined as the mental simulation of movement without actual execution, functions as a cortical-level training method and has positive effects on impaired body schema perception, thereby reducing pain. A review of the literature indicates that motor imagery training contributes to the treatment of pathological pain syndromes such as complex regional pain syndrome, brachial plexus avulsion injury, phantom limb pain, distal radius fracture, and stroke by modulating cortical mechanisms. However, no randomized controlled trials have investigated the effectiveness of adding motor imagery training to exercise therapy in individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain, specifically regarding its impact on physical function and psychosocial parameters.
The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a motor imagery training protocol, applied in addition to exercise therapy, on pain, physical, and psychosocial parameters in individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain.
A total of 32 individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain will be included in the study. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. All participants will receive telerehabilitation-based exercise therapy under the supervision of a physiotherapist. In addition to the exercise therapy, participants in the intervention group will undergo asynchronous motor imagery training every day for eight weeks, while the control group will receive only exercise therapy.
Assessments will be conducted three times: before treatment, at the end of the 8-week intervention, and at the 12th week follow-up. All assessments will be performed through a telerehabilitation-based approach. The study will evaluate participants' pain, fatigue, disability level due to low back pain, anxiety and depression levels, and physical function.
- Conditions
- Low Back Pain
- Being tested
- Motor imagey training, Exercise training
- Keywords
- telerehabilitation, motor imagery, low back pain
- Medical subject headings
- Low Back Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Motor imagey trainingBehavioural
In addition to the prescribed exercise training, participants in the intervention group will follow a pre-designed motor imagery program for eight weeks, practicing daily. This program will include pre-recorded exercise videos specifically targeting the lumbar region, along with synchronized audio recordings providing detailed explanations of the exercises.
Exercise trainingBehavioural
All participants will receive telerehabilitation-based exercise training under the supervision of a physiotherapist for eight weeks. The exercise program will be delivered via videoconferencing as part of a telerehabilitation-based approach. The exercises, conducted under the physiotherapist's supervision, will consist of flexibility and stabilization exercises targeting the lumbar region and will last approximately 25 minutes per session.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Imagery and Exercise Group | Experimental | Participants in the intervention group will follow a pre-designed motor imagery program in addition to the prescribed exercise training for eight weeks. This program will include exercise videos specifically targeting the lumbar region, along with synchronized audio recordings providing detailed explanations of the exercises. The exercise videos will initially consist of simple exercises and will progressively advance to more complex movements over the course of the intervention. Participants will receive new exercise videos weekly. Each session will last approximately 20-25 minutes, and participants will be required to complete the program daily. Receives: Behavioral: Motor imagey training; Behavioral: Exercise training |
| Exercise Group | Active comparator | Participants in the control group will receive only telerehabilitation-based exercise training under the supervision of a physiotherapist, twice a week for eight weeks. Receives: Behavioral: Exercise training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Numeric Pain Scale
The severity of general low back pain experienced by the participants in the last two days will be assessed numerically using the Numeric Pain Scale. Participants will be informed that a score of 0 represents "no pain at all," while a score of 10 represents "the most unbearable pain." Pain severity will be recorded numerically on a scale from 0 to 10.
Measured: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Secondary outcomes (9)
Oswestry Disability Index
The "Oswestry Disability Index" will be used to assess the level of disability related to low back pain among participants. This index evaluates the impact of low back pain on daily activities through 10 questions, each scored between 0 and 5, covering aspects such as pain intensity, personal care, lifting, walking, sitting, standing, sleeping, social life, traveling, and changes in pain severity. A lower score indicates a higher quality of life. The validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the index have been established, with a reported Cronbach's alpha of 0.91.
Measured: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Fatigue Severity Scale
The "Fatigue Severity Scale," commonly used in clinical and experimental studies, will be employed to determine participants' fatigue levels. The scale consists of nine questions, each scored from 1 to 7 (1: strongly disagree, 7: strongly agree). The total score is obtained by summing the scores of all items and calculating the average. Higher scores indicate greater fatigue. This scale was developed and adapted into Turkish.
Measured: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
The "Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale" will be used to evaluate participants' levels of anxiety and depression. This scale is utilized to determine the risk, severity, and level of anxiety and depression in individuals. The HADS consists of a total of 14 self-report items, divided into two subscales: seven related to anxiety and seven related to depression. Items are rated on a four-point Likert scale ranging from 0 to 3. Higher scores indicate more severe symptoms.
Measured: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Sit-up Test
The "Sit-up Test" will be used to assess trunk endurance among participants. This test measures the strength and endurance of abdominal muscles. Participants will begin in a supine position with knees flexed at approximately 140 degrees, feet flat on the floor, legs slightly abducted, arms parallel to the trunk with palms facing downward. They will be instructed to perform sit-up movements by extending their arms forward and then returning to the starting position. The number of sit-ups completed within one minute will be recorded. Time will be tracked using a stopwatch. The validity and reliability of remote application of this test have been established.
Measured: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Modified Push-up Test
The "Modified Push-up Test" will be conducted to assess trunk endurance. Participants will assume a prone position with hands positioned at shoulder level, elbows flexed, and the body aligned to allow for elbow extension and flexion. They will be asked to lift their head, shoulders, and trunk off the ground by fully extending their elbows and to repeat this movement for 40 seconds. The number of completed push-ups within this duration will be recorded. The validity and reliability of remote application of this test have been confirme.
Measured: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Plank Test
The "Plank Test" will be used to evaluate trunk endurance. Participants will be positioned in a prone posture, resting on their forearms and toes, with their pelvis elevated and their body forming a straight line parallel to the ground. They will be instructed to maintain this position for as long as possible. The duration (in seconds) until the participant can no longer hold the position will be recorded. The validity and reliability of remote application of this test have been verified.
Measured: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Side Bridge Test
The "Side Bridge Test" will be used to assess trunk endurance. Participants will be instructed to lie on their side with their legs extended and the upper arm placed across the chest, touching the opposite shoulder. The supporting elbow will be flexed, allowing weight to be distributed through the elbow and forearm. Participants will be asked to lift their hips off the ground while maintaining a straight body alignment, supported by the elbow and feet. The test will end when the participant loses the correct posture, and the duration (in seconds) of holding the position will be recorded. This test will be performed bilaterally. The validity and reliability of remote application of this test have been confirmed.
Measured: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Timed Up and Go Test
The "Timed Up and Go Test" will be used to assess participants' functional capacity. Participants will be asked to stand up from a chair with armrests, walk three meters, turn around, return to the chair, and sit down. The total time taken to complete this task will be measured. The validity and reliability of remote application of this test have been established.
Measured: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
30-Second Chair Stand Test
The "30-Second Chair Stand Test" will be used to assess participants' functional capacity. Participants will use a chair with a seat height of 45-47 cm, ensuring their feet are in contact with the ground. Beginning in a seated position with arms crossed over the chest, they will be asked to stand up and sit down as many times as possible within 30 seconds. The number of completed repetitions will constitute the test score. The participant must fully extend their hips and knees while standing. The validity and reliability of remote application of this test have been confirmed.
Measured: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Mar 2025
- Study start5 Mar 2025
- Primary completion12 Aug 2026
- Study completion12 Aug 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Low Back PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul Bilgi University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Hilal Karakas, Istanbul Bilgi University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06859645
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MotorImagery
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 21 Feb 2025
- Last updated
- 13 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Telerehabilitation-Based Motor Imagery Training on Pain, Trunk Endurance, Functional Capacity, and Psychosocial Parameters in People With Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06859645
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MotorImagery
- Conditions
- Low Back Pain
- Keywords
- telerehabilitation, motor imagery, low back pain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul Bilgi UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 5 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 12 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 12 Aug 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 5 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Low back pain is a significant global health issue, affecting a large proportion of the population at some point in their lives. Among the different types of low back pain, non-specific low back pain is the most common. Chronic low back pain has been shown to impact trunk endurance, functional capacity, fatigue, anxiety, and depression levels.
Neuroscience-based studies aimed at improving pain management have demonstrated that chronic pain is associated with not only peripheral changes but also central changes. These central changes include abnormalities in the distribution of sensory cortical processing, disinhibition of the motor cortex, and disturbances in body schema perception.
Studies have shown that motor imagery training, defined as the mental simulation of movement without actual execution, functions as a cortical-level training method and has positive effects on impaired body schema perception, thereby reducing pain. A review of the literature indicates that motor imagery training contributes to the treatment of pathological pain syndromes such as complex regional pain syndrome, brachial plexus avulsion injury, phantom limb pain, distal radius fracture, and stroke by modulating cortical mechanisms. However, no randomized controlled trials have investigated the effectiveness of adding motor imagery training to exercise therapy in individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain, specifically regarding its impact on physical function and psychosocial parameters.
The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a motor imagery training protocol, applied in addition to exercise therapy, on pain, physical, and psychosocial parameters in individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain.
A total of 32 individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain will be included in the study. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. All participants will receive telerehabilitation-based exercise therapy under the supervision of a physiotherapist. In addition to the exercise therapy, participants in the intervention group will undergo asynchronous motor imagery training every day for eight weeks, while the control group will receive only exercise therapy.
Assessments will be conducted three times: before treatment, at the end of the 8-week intervention, and at the 12th week follow-up. All assessments will be performed through a telerehabilitation-based approach. The study will evaluate participants' pain, fatigue, disability level due to low back pain, anxiety and depression levels, and physical function.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Imagery and Exercise Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Motor imagey training, Behavioral: Exercise trainingParticipants in the intervention group will follow a pre-designed motor imagery program in addition to the prescribed exercise training for eight weeks. This program will include exercise videos specifically targeting the lumbar region, along with synchronized audio recordings providing detailed explanations of the exercises. The exercise videos will initially consist of simple exercises and will progressively advance to more complex movements over the course of the intervention. Participants will receive new exercise videos weekly. Each session will last approximately 20-25 minutes, and participants will be required to complete the program daily. |
| Exercise Group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Exercise trainingParticipants in the control group will receive only telerehabilitation-based exercise training under the supervision of a physiotherapist, twice a week for eight weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 55 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Being between 18 and 55 years old
- Having a history of low back pain persisting for at least three months
- Experiencing recurrent episodes of low back pain
- Having a low back pain intensity score of 4 or higher on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NRS) out of 10 during both rest and activity
- Having the ability to use a computer, tablet, or smartphone at a level sufficient to participate in assessments and treatment sessions via videoconference, or having a caregiver who can assist with this
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- A history of spinal surgery
- Having traumatic low back injuries
- Presence of severe comorbidities (neurological, neuromuscular, cardiological, psychiatric)
- Presence of tumoral conditions
- Having visual or hearing impairments
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Motor imagey trainingIn addition to the prescribed exercise training, participants in the intervention group will follow a pre-designed motor imagery program for eight weeks, practicing daily. This program will include pre-recorded exercise videos specifically targeting the lumbar region, along with synchronized audio recordings providing detailed explanations of the exercises. | Behavioural | Motor Imagery and Exercise Group |
| Exercise trainingAll participants will receive telerehabilitation-based exercise training under the supervision of a physiotherapist for eight weeks. The exercise program will be delivered via videoconferencing as part of a telerehabilitation-based approach. The exercises, conducted under the physiotherapist's supervision, will consist of flexibility and stabilization exercises targeting the lumbar region and will last approximately 25 minutes per session. | Behavioural | Exercise Group, Motor Imagery and Exercise Group |
Primary outcome
Numeric Pain Scale
Time frame: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
The severity of general low back pain experienced by the participants in the last two days will be assessed numerically using the Numeric Pain Scale. Participants will be informed that a score of 0 represents "no pain at all," while a score of 10 represents "the most unbearable pain." Pain severity will be recorded numerically on a scale from 0 to 10.
9 secondary outcomes
Oswestry Disability Index
Time frame: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Fatigue Severity Scale
Time frame: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale
Time frame: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Sit-up Test
Time frame: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Modified Push-up Test
Time frame: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Plank Test
Time frame: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Side Bridge Test
Time frame: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Timed Up and Go Test
Time frame: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
30-Second Chair Stand Test
Time frame: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Motor imagey training and Exercise training in people with Low Back Pain, run by Istanbul Bilgi University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Numeric Pain Scale (time frame: Baseline, at 8 week, at 12 week). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Aug 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 31 Oct 2026.