Effects of Motor Imagery and Action Observation on Motor Function in Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of action observation therapy and motor imagery methods, provided in addition to a conventional physiotherapy and rehabilitation program, on gross motor function, upper and lower extremity functional skills, and quality of life in children with cerebral palsy.

Conditions

• Cerebral Palsy (CP)

Interventions

OTHER

motor imagery

Participants will receive treatment for 16 sessions in total, with 2 sessions per week for 8 weeks. Each session will last 50 minutes. The motor imagery practice will consist of a total of 10 movements including unimanual and bimanual, walking and balance activities, and will be performed by participants from both first-person and third-person perspectives. Balance activities: * Single-leg standing balance * Sit and stand up with your arms crossed in front of you while sitting in the chair. Walking activities: * The child gets up from the chair without support, walks 3 meters, then returns and sits back down in the chair * Walking sideways and backward on different surfaces Bimauel upper extremity activities * Putting on a blouse * Putting on and zipping up/down a dress with a front zipper. * Putting on shoes and tying the laces. Unimanual upper extremity activities * Taking food from the plate with a spoon and putting it in the mouth * Combing hair * Holding the doorknob and opening

OTHER

Action observation therapy

Participants will receive treatment for 16 sessions in total, with 2 sessions per week for 8 weeks. Each session will last 50 minutes. Action observation therapy will consist of a total of 10 movements including unimanual and bimanual, walking and balance activities. After participants observe the movement (observation phase), they are asked to imitate the movement they observed (execution phase). Balance activities: * Single-leg standing balance * Sit and stand up with your arms crossed in front of you while sitting in the chair. Walking activities: * The child gets up from the chair without support, walks 3 meters, then returns and sits back down in the chair * Walking sideways and backward on different surfaces Bimauel upper extremity activities * Putting on a blouse * Putting on and zipping up/down a dress with a front zipper. * Putting on shoes and tying the laces. Unimanual upper extremity activities * Taking food from the plate with a spoon and putting it in the mouth

OTHER

Conventional physiotherapy group

Participants will receive treatment for 16 sessions in total, with 2 sessions per week for 8 weeks. Each session will last 50 minutes. Conventional physiotherapy training will be structured according to the child's symptoms and needs, and will consist of stretching, strengthening, normal walking training, postural control training, and weight-bearing training in different positions (sitting, standing, side-lying, prone).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bahçeşehir University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Hasan K. Alptekin, Prof. Dr. · Bahçeşehir University

• Pelin Pisirici, Assoc. Prof. · Bahçeşehir University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

7 Years

Max Age

16 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-05-15

Primary Completion

2026-10-31

Completion

2026-10-31

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations