Influence of Motivation and Mental Practice on Lumbo-Pelvic Strength in Healthy Adults

Mateo Riera Marco

Status: Completed

Conditions: Muscle Strength; Healthy Volunteers

Treatments: Behavioral: Motor Imagery (MI); Behavioral: Motor Imagery with Motivation (MIm); Behavioral: Action Observation with Motivation (AOm); Behavioral: Action Observation (AO)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07155655

MMR2023PilotRCT

Details and patient eligibility

About

This pilot randomized controlled trial investigated the influence of motivation combined with motor imagery (MI) or action observation (AO) on lumbo-pelvic strength in asymptomatic adults. The purpose was to explore whether adding a motivational protocol to mental practice strategies could enhance strength outcomes.

Forty healthy participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: motor imagery (MI), action observation (AO), motor imagery with motivation (MIm), or action observation with motivation (AOm). Lumbo-pelvic strength was measured using a dynamometer, while imagery ability was evaluated with the revised Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-R). Assessments were performed at baseline and post-intervention, with strength additionally measured pre-, intra-, and post-intervention.

The trial was conducted between September 2022 and June 2023 at Centro de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Madrid, Spain, during the investigator's student affiliation. This study is being registered retrospectively to meet ethical and publication requirements.

Full description

Mental practice strategies such as motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) are increasingly applied in both sports and rehabilitation contexts to enhance motor learning, strength, and functional outcomes. These techniques activate neural circuits that overlap with those involved in actual movement execution and have been shown to produce both neurophysiological and performance-related changes. Motivation, an important factor in motor performance, may further influence the effectiveness of MI and AO, but its specific contribution remains unclear.

This pilot randomized controlled trial was designed to provide preliminary evidence regarding the effect of motivation combined with MI or AO on lumbo-pelvic strength in asymptomatic adults. The trial included 40 participants randomly assigned to one of four groups: MI, AO, MI with motivation, and AO with motivation. Interventions were delivered online over four weeks, with strength and imagery ability assessed at multiple time points.

The study was conducted at Centro de Estudios Universitarios La Salle (Madrid, Spain) between September 2022 and June 2023. This record is submitted retrospectively to comply with ethical and publication requirements.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Asymptomatic male and female participants
• Aged between 18 and 65 years
• No musculoskeletal, systemic, neurological, cognitive, or psychological disorders affecting the lumbopelvic area

Exclusion criteria

• Students enrolled in bioscience-related degrees beyond their first year
• History of pathology or surgery involving the lower limb or lumbar spine
• Lumbopelvic or lower limb pain within the past three months
• Illiteracy
• Pregnant women or those who suspected pregnancy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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40 participants in 4 patient groups

Motor Imagery (MI)

Experimental group

Description:

Ten asymptomatic participants assigned to a motor imagery training protocol, performed twice weekly for four weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Motor Imagery (MI)

Action Observation (AO)

Experimental group

Description:

Ten asymptomatic participants assigned to an action observation training protocol, performed twice weekly for four weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Action Observation (AO)

Motor Imagery With Motivation (MIm)

Experimental group

Description:

Ten asymptomatic participants assigned to motor imagery training combined with a motivational protocol, performed twice weekly for four weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Motor Imagery with Motivation (MIm)

Action Observation With Motivation (AOm)

Experimental group

Description:

Ten asymptomatic participants assigned to action observation training combined with a motivational protocol, performed twice weekly for four weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Action Observation with Motivation (AOm)