Mobility ImpairmentMI-TURNNCT07705360
Motor Imagery and Turning Practice to Improve Mobility: Pilot Trial
A study testing Motor Imagery Therapy, Stress Management Education and Locomotor Turning Practice in people with Mobility Impairment and Community Dwelling Older Adults, run by Boise State University.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether combining in-person turning practice with home-based Motor Imagery Therapy (MIT) is feasible and may improve mobility in community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older who report balance or turning-related mobility concerns. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Mobility Impairment, Community Dwelling Older Adults
- What is being tested?
- Motor Imagery Therapy, Stress Management Education and Locomotor Turning Practice
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Nov 2026to 31 Jan 2029
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 65 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 65 years or older.
- Self-report difficulty with turning, balance, or walking-related mobility tasks.
- Self-report increased fall risk, including a history of falls, fall-related injury, multiple falls within the previous year, or fear of falling due to balance or walking concerns.
- Report some difficulty with walking-related activities, such as turning, walking longer distances, climbing stairs, or completing household activities.
- Willingness to be randomized to either study group and complete all study procedures.
- Living independently in the community and able to travel to the research site.
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- Ability to perform motor imagery, defined by a qualifying score on the Motor Imagery Questionnaire - Revised Second Version.
- Access to an internet-connected computer capable of playing videos with sound in a quiet environment.
- Ability to provide informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Diagnosis or symptoms of a neurological disorder or central nervous system injury, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or stroke.
- Contraindications to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or non-invasive brain stimulation procedures.
- Use of medications known to substantially affect central nervous system function.
- Severe arthritis or musculoskeletal impairment that would limit safe participation in mobility training.
- Severe obesity (body mass index greater than 35 kg/m²).
- Significant cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, or other uncontrolled medical conditions that may limit safe participation.
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- Myocardial infarction or major cardiac surgery within the previous year.
- Cancer treatment within the previous year, excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer or cancers with excellent prognosis.
- Uncontrolled hypertension at rest (systolic blood pressure >180 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure >100 mmHg).
- Bone fracture or joint replacement within the previous 6 months.
- Current participation in physical therapy or cardiopulmonary rehabilitation targeting lower extremity function.
- Current enrollment in another clinical trial that may interfere with study participation or outcomes.
- Inability to communicate effectively with study personnel or inability to understand English-language study procedures.
- Plans to relocate from the area during the study period.
- Any additional safety or compliance concerns identified by the investigative team.
About this study
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether combining in-person turning practice with home-based Motor Imagery Therapy (MIT) is feasible and may improve mobility in community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older who report balance or turning-related mobility concerns. MIT involves mentally practicing movements and watching movement demonstrations without physically performing the movement.
The main questions this study aims to answer are whether it is feasible for older adults to complete a combined in-person and home-based turning and motor imagery program based on attendance, retention, and activity monitor use; whether adding MIT to a turning intervention improves turning performance more than a comparison program focused on stress management education; whether MIT increases daily physical activity, increases walking intensity, and reduces sedentary time in daily life; and whether measures of brain function related to movement control predict how much participants improve following the intervention.
Read more
Researchers will compare a locomotor turning intervention combined with MIT (Loco+MIT) to a locomotor turning intervention combined with stress management education (Loco+SME) to determine whether MIT leads to greater improvements in mobility and daily activity.
Participants will attend five laboratory visits that include mobility testing, brain stimulation assessments, and physical activity assessments. Participants will also complete six weeks of in-person turning practice sessions held twice per week and home-based sessions three times per week consisting of either motor imagery training or stress management education. In addition, participants will wear a physical activity monitor during daily life to measure movement and sedentary behavior and will complete follow-up assessments after the intervention to evaluate changes in mobility and activity over time.
Read the detailed description
This randomized pilot clinical trial will evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of combining in-person locomotor turning practice with home-based Motor Imagery Therapy (MIT) in older adults with self-reported balance or turning-related mobility concerns. Turning is a common component of daily mobility and a frequent contributor to falls in older adults, yet it is often underemphasized in traditional rehabilitation programs. MIT is a non-invasive behavioral approach that combines mental rehearsal of movement with action observation to engage brain networks involved in movement planning and motor learning.
Thirty community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older will be randomized to either a locomotor turning intervention combined with MIT (Loco+MIT) or a locomotor turning intervention combined with stress management education (Loco+SME). Both groups will complete six weeks of in-person turning practice focused on dynamic turning, weight shifting, and head-trunk coordination. Home-based sessions will be completed on alternating days and will consist of either guided motor imagery and action observation exercises or stress management and wellness education without motor practice components.
The study will evaluate feasibility outcomes including intervention attendance, participant retention, and compliance with remote activity monitoring. Preliminary efficacy outcomes will include turning performance, free-living physical activity, walking intensity, sedentary behavior, and neurophysiological measures related to cortical inhibitory function assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The study will also explore whether baseline measures of cortical inhibition predict responsiveness to the intervention and whether changes in inhibitory activity are associated with mobility improvements following training.
This study is intended to provide preliminary data regarding the feasibility, safety, and potential benefits of combining motor imagery with locomotor turning practice to support future larger-scale rehabilitation trials targeting mobility and fall risk in older adults.
- Being tested
- Motor Imagery Therapy, Stress Management Education, Locomotor Turning Practice
- Keywords
- Motor Imagery, Locomotor Training, Mobility, Older Adults, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Turning Performance, Physical Activity
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Motor Imagery TherapyBehavioural
Also called MIT
Motor Imagery Therapy (MIT) is a home-based behavioral intervention that combines guided mental rehearsal of movement with action observation. Participants will complete sessions focused on imagining and observing functional mobility tasks and turning-related movements without physically performing the movements.
Stress Management EducationBehavioural
Also called SME
Stress Management Education (SME) is a home-based educational intervention designed to serve as an active comparison condition. Participants will complete sessions focused on stress management, sleep, wellness, and general health education without motor imagery or movement practice components.
Locomotor Turning PracticeBehavioural
Also called LOCO
Locomotor Turning Practice is an in-person mobility intervention focused on improving turning performance and dynamic mobility in older adults. Sessions will include structured practice of turning movements, weight shifting, stepping transitions, and head-trunk coordination exercises conducted twice weekly over six weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Loco+MIT | Experimental | Participants assigned to this arm will receive six weeks of in-person locomotor turning practice combined with home-based Motor Imagery Therapy. In-person sessions will focus on dynamic turning, weight shifting, and head-trunk coordination. Home-based Motor Imagery Therapy sessions will include guided mental practice and action observation of movement tasks. Receives: Behavioral: Motor Imagery Therapy; Behavioral: Locomotor Turning Practice |
| Loco+SME | Active comparator | Participants assigned to this arm will receive the same six weeks of in-person locomotor turning practice combined with home-based Stress Management Education. In-person sessions will focus on dynamic turning, weight shifting, and head-trunk coordination. Home-based Stress Management Education sessions will include educational content related to stress, sleep, and wellness without motor imagery or motor practice components. Receives: Behavioral: Stress Management Education; Behavioral: Locomotor Turning Practice |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Participant Retention Rate (Feasibility)
Percentage of enrolled participants who complete the 1-month post-intervention assessment.
Measured: Post 1-Month Assessment Visit
Participant Attendance Rate (Feasibility)
Percentage of scheduled in-person intervention sessions and home-based sessions completed by participants.
Measured: Baseline through the 1-month post-intervention assessment (approximately 11 weeks).
Change from Baseline of 360-Degree Turn Duration
The change in time required to complete a 360-degree turn measured using wearable inertial sensors.
Measured: Baseline to 1-week post-intervention (approximately seven weeks between assessments)
Change from Baseline of 180-Degree Turn Duration
The change in time required to complete a 180-degree turn measured using wearable inertial sensors.
Measured: Baseline to 1-week post-intervention (approximately seven weeks between assessments)
Secondary outcomes (3)
Free-Living Physical Activity - Daily Step Count
Change in average daily step count measured using an activity monitor.
Measured: Baseline to 1-week post-intervention
Free-Living Physical Activity - Time Spent Sedentary
Change in average time spend sedentary measured using an activity monitor.
Measured: Baseline to 1-week post-intervention
Duration of Cortical Silent Period (cSP) (ms)
Cortical Silent Period (cSP) duration is a measure of cortical inhibitory function assessed using single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The cSP is defined as the duration of stimulus-induced suppression of voluntary muscle activity and is reported in milliseconds (ms).
Measured: Change from baseline to 1-week post-intervention (approximately seven weeks after baseline)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Jul 2026
- Study start1 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Jan 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Jan 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Mobility ImpairmentStudies 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
- Model description
- Participants will be randomized to one of two parallel intervention groups: locomotor turning practice combined with Motor Imagery Therapy (MIT) or locomotor turning practice combined with Stress Management Education (SME).
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Boise State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Clayton Swanson, Boise State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07705360
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB26-071
- Other IDs
- 5P20GM148321
- Acronym
- MI-TURN
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 26 May 2026
- Last updated
- 13 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified individual participant data underlying published study results may be shared, including demographic data, mobility outcomes, physical activity measures, feasibility outcomes, and neurophysiological measures collected during the study.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Motor Imagery and Turning Practice to Improve Mobility: Pilot Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07705360
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MI-TURN / IRB26-071
- Keywords
- Motor Imagery, Locomotor Training, Mobility, Older Adults, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Turning Performance, Physical Activity
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Boise State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
- Study start
- 1 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 Jan 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Jan 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Jul 2026 (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.
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether combining in-person turning practice with home-based Motor Imagery Therapy (MIT) is feasible and may improve mobility in community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older who report balance or turning-related mobility concerns. MIT involves mentally practicing movements and watching movement demonstrations without physically performing the movement.
The main questions this study aims to answer are whether it is feasible for older adults to complete a combined in-person and home-based turning and motor imagery program based on attendance, retention, and activity monitor use; whether adding MIT to a turning intervention improves turning performance more than a comparison program focused on stress management education; whether MIT increases daily physical activity, increases walking intensity, and reduces sedentary time in daily life; and whether measures of brain function related to movement control predict how much participants improve following the intervention.
Researchers will compare a locomotor turning intervention combined with MIT (Loco+MIT) to a locomotor turning intervention combined with stress management education (Loco+SME) to determine whether MIT leads to greater improvements in mobility and daily activity.
Participants will attend five laboratory visits that include mobility testing, brain stimulation assessments, and physical activity assessments. Participants will also complete six weeks of in-person turning practice sessions held twice per week and home-based sessions three times per week consisting of either motor imagery training or stress management education. In addition, participants will wear a physical activity monitor during daily life to measure movement and sedentary behavior and will complete follow-up assessments after the intervention to evaluate changes in mobility and activity over time.
Detailed description
This randomized pilot clinical trial will evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of combining in-person locomotor turning practice with home-based Motor Imagery Therapy (MIT) in older adults with self-reported balance or turning-related mobility concerns. Turning is a common component of daily mobility and a frequent contributor to falls in older adults, yet it is often underemphasized in traditional rehabilitation programs. MIT is a non-invasive behavioral approach that combines mental rehearsal of movement with action observation to engage brain networks involved in movement planning and motor learning.
Thirty community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older will be randomized to either a locomotor turning intervention combined with MIT (Loco+MIT) or a locomotor turning intervention combined with stress management education (Loco+SME). Both groups will complete six weeks of in-person turning practice focused on dynamic turning, weight shifting, and head-trunk coordination. Home-based sessions will be completed on alternating days and will consist of either guided motor imagery and action observation exercises or stress management and wellness education without motor practice components.
The study will evaluate feasibility outcomes including intervention attendance, participant retention, and compliance with remote activity monitoring. Preliminary efficacy outcomes will include turning performance, free-living physical activity, walking intensity, sedentary behavior, and neurophysiological measures related to cortical inhibitory function assessed using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The study will also explore whether baseline measures of cortical inhibition predict responsiveness to the intervention and whether changes in inhibitory activity are associated with mobility improvements following training.
This study is intended to provide preliminary data regarding the feasibility, safety, and potential benefits of combining motor imagery with locomotor turning practice to support future larger-scale rehabilitation trials targeting mobility and fall risk in older adults.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomized to one of two parallel intervention groups: locomotor turning practice combined with Motor Imagery Therapy (MIT) or locomotor turning practice combined with Stress Management Education (SME).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Loco+MIT | Experimental | Behavioral: Motor Imagery Therapy, Behavioral: Locomotor Turning PracticeParticipants assigned to this arm will receive six weeks of in-person locomotor turning practice combined with home-based Motor Imagery Therapy. In-person sessions will focus on dynamic turning, weight shifting, and head-trunk coordination. Home-based Motor Imagery Therapy sessions will include guided mental practice and action observation of movement tasks. |
| Loco+SME | Active comparator | Behavioral: Stress Management Education, Behavioral: Locomotor Turning PracticeParticipants assigned to this arm will receive the same six weeks of in-person locomotor turning practice combined with home-based Stress Management Education. In-person sessions will focus on dynamic turning, weight shifting, and head-trunk coordination. Home-based Stress Management Education sessions will include educational content related to stress, sleep, and wellness without motor imagery or motor practice components. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Age 65 years or older.
- Self-report difficulty with turning, balance, or walking-related mobility tasks.
- Self-report increased fall risk, including a history of falls, fall-related injury, multiple falls within the previous year, or fear of falling due to balance or walking concerns.
- Report some difficulty with walking-related activities, such as turning, walking longer distances, climbing stairs, or completing household activities.
- Willingness to be randomized to either study group and complete all study procedures.
Key exclusion criteria (15 listed)
- Diagnosis or symptoms of a neurological disorder or central nervous system injury, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or stroke.
- Contraindications to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or non-invasive brain stimulation procedures.
- Use of medications known to substantially affect central nervous system function.
- Severe arthritis or musculoskeletal impairment that would limit safe participation in mobility training.
- Severe obesity (body mass index greater than 35 kg/m²).
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 Imagery TherapyAlso: MITMotor Imagery Therapy (MIT) is a home-based behavioral intervention that combines guided mental rehearsal of movement with action observation. Participants will complete sessions focused on imagining and observing functional mobility tasks and turning-related movements without physically performing the movements. | Behavioural | Loco+MIT |
| Stress Management EducationAlso: SMEStress Management Education (SME) is a home-based educational intervention designed to serve as an active comparison condition. Participants will complete sessions focused on stress management, sleep, wellness, and general health education without motor imagery or movement practice components. | Behavioural | Loco+SME |
| Locomotor Turning PracticeAlso: LOCOLocomotor Turning Practice is an in-person mobility intervention focused on improving turning performance and dynamic mobility in older adults. Sessions will include structured practice of turning movements, weight shifting, stepping transitions, and head-trunk coordination exercises conducted twice weekly over six weeks. | Behavioural | Loco+MIT, Loco+SME |
Primary outcome
Participant Retention Rate (Feasibility)
Time frame: Post 1-Month Assessment Visit
Percentage of enrolled participants who complete the 1-month post-intervention assessment.
Participant Attendance Rate (Feasibility)
Time frame: Baseline through the 1-month post-intervention assessment (approximately 11 weeks).
Percentage of scheduled in-person intervention sessions and home-based sessions completed by participants.
Change from Baseline of 360-Degree Turn Duration
Time frame: Baseline to 1-week post-intervention (approximately seven weeks between assessments)
The change in time required to complete a 360-degree turn measured using wearable inertial sensors.
Change from Baseline of 180-Degree Turn Duration
Time frame: Baseline to 1-week post-intervention (approximately seven weeks between assessments)
The change in time required to complete a 180-degree turn measured using wearable inertial sensors.
3 secondary outcomes
Free-Living Physical Activity - Daily Step Count
Time frame: Baseline to 1-week post-intervention
Free-Living Physical Activity - Time Spent Sedentary
Time frame: Baseline to 1-week post-intervention
Duration of Cortical Silent Period (cSP) (ms)
Time frame: Change from baseline to 1-week post-intervention (approximately seven weeks after baseline)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified individual participant data underlying published study results may be shared, including demographic data, mobility outcomes, physical activity measures, feasibility outcomes, and neurophysiological measures collected during the study.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Motor Imagery Therapy, Stress Management Education and Locomotor Turning Practice in people with Mobility Impairment and Community Dwelling Older Adults, run by Boise State University.
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 9 inclusion and 15 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
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?
Participant Retention Rate (Feasibility) (time frame: Post 1-Month Assessment Visit). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. 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 Oct 2026.