Effects of Motor Imagery and Action Observation on Motor Function in Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Investigation of the Effects of Motor Imagery and Action Observation Therapy on Gross Motor Function, Upper Extremity Functional Skills, Activity, and Participation in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Bahçeşehir University
48 participants
May 15, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
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.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria7
- Being between 7 and 16 years of age
- Having a diagnosis of unilateral cerebral palsy made by a pediatric neurologist
- Being classified at levels I-II of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS)
- Scoring above 24 on the Mini-Mental State Examination for Children
- Having no cognitive impairments (i.e., possessing an appropriate cognitive level to follow task instructions)
- Willingness to participate in the study (child and family)
- Being classified at levels I-III of the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) -Being classified at levels I-III of the Communication Function Classification System (CFCS) -
Exclusion Criteria8
- Children with uncontrolled seizures
- Children who have received motor imagery training or action observation therapy within the last 6 months
- Children with contractures
- Children with severe visual and/or hearing impairments
- Being classified at levels III, IV, or V according to the GMFCS
- Scoring below 24 on the Mini-Mental State Examination for Children
- Being classified at levels IV-V of the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS)
- Having undergone orthopedic surgery or botulinum toxin (Botox) treatment within the last 6 months
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Interventions
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
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
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).
Locations(1)
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NCT07612371