Effects of Motor Imagery and Action Observation on Electromyographic Activity and Intramuscular Oxygenation in the Hand Gripping Gesture

Neuroscience Clinical Trial

Official title:

Effects of Motor Imagery and Action Observation on Electromyographic Activity and Intramuscular Oxygenation in the Hand Gripping Gesture

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03324217
• Other study ID #: uamadrid 3
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: October 20, 2017
• Last updated: October 26, 2017
• Start date: June 1, 2017
• Est. completion date: October 13, 2017

Study information

• Verified date: October 2017
• Source: Universidad Autonoma de Madrid
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Motor imagery is defined as a dynamic mental process of an action, without its real motor execution. Action observation training consists of watching an action performed by someone else. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of motor imagery and action observation combined with a hand grip strength program on strength gains in asymptomatic participants. The secondary objective was to assess the influence of motor imagery and action observation training combined with a hand grip strength program on electromyographic activity and intramuscular oxygenation of the forearm muscles.

Description:

Motor imagery is defined as a dynamic mental process of an action, without its real motor execution. Action observation training consists of watching an action performed by someone else. Both motor imagery and action observation have been shown to produce a neurophysiological activation of the brain areas related to the planning and execution of voluntary movement in a manner that resembles how the action is performed in reality.

Several studies have shown that patients can report a significant improvement in strength with motor imagery training. There is also evidence regarding the improvements in motor skills in participants who perform motor imagery training combined with mirror therapy. Motor imagery is recognized as one of the most popular and effective forms of training to improve learning strategies and to increase the capacity to perfect sports movements, as has been observed in rhythmic gymnastics athletes.

In addition to the previously mentioned adaptations, a recent research proved that motor imagery and action observation provoke an activation of the sympathetic-excitatory nervous system. Changes in respiration, heart rate and skin temperature are produced, as well as an increase in electrodermal activity.

Both motor imagery and action observation are interventions that can generate adaptive neuroplastic changes on a cortical level, leading to a decrease in chronic pain. These rehabilitation techniques are used in pain treatment and impaired movement injuries that could be due to a nervous system alteration.

Action observation effectively facilitates motor learning, and is a tool for rehabilitation in neurological and musculoskeletal diseases. Action observation training leads to significant improvements in static balance and helps improve gait in patients with hemiparesis after an ictus.

A recent study showed that the patient's functionality loss is lessened if motor imagery and action observation are applied after an immobilization process, reducing the loss of wrist mobility, strength and muscle mass.

The effectiveness of motor imagery is controversial; several studies have presented unfavorable outcomes from this technique. Some variables, such as the duration of the sessions, the time employed the type of motor task or the number of sessions can influence the outcomes of these studies. Thus, it is necessary to clarify the controversial aspects of motor imagery, which lead us to perform this study.

This study evaluates variables that have not yet shown conclusive results: intramuscular oxygenation and electromyography. Focusing principally on the effectiveness of the treatment and the adaptations that are generated on an intramuscular level leads to a better understanding of what occurs as a result of training with motor imagery and action observation, and also whether these variables influence the effectiveness of the treatment.

Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of motor imagery and action observation combined with a hand grip strength program on strength gains in asymptomatic participants. The secondary objective was to assess the influence of motor imagery and action observation training combined with a hand grip strength program on electromyographic activity and intramuscular oxygenation of the forearm muscles.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 60
• Est. completion date: October 13, 2017
• Est. primary completion date: September 11, 2017
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 65 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• asymptomatic participants;

• men and women aged 18 to 65 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

• participants who had any knowledge of physical therapy;

• underage participants;

• participants with pain at the time of the study;

• participants with any type of neurological disease.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Asymptomatic Subjects
• Neuroscience
• Painfree Voluntiers

Intervention

Other:
• Mental Practise
They made a mental task to produce a neurophysiological activation of the brain areas related to the planning and execution of voluntary movement in a manner that resembles how the action is performed in reality in combination with real exercises.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Spain	CSEU La Salle	Madrid

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Spain, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	The hand grip strength	The hand grip strength in kilograms was assessed using a Jamar dynamometer with the standard protocols for hand grip training. The measurements with the Jamar dynamometer present excellent test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.81-0.99) for preferred and nonpreferred hands in men and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.83-1.0) for preferred and nonpreferred hands in women. The Jamar Dynamometer presents excellent intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.94 and 0.98) and excellent inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.98 for right and left handgrip strength).	Change in hand grip strength after 72 hours post-intervention
Secondary	Intramuscular oxygenation	The intramuscular oxygenation of the extensor muscles of the forearm was measured with the Moxy Monitor System. The Moxy sensor is placed over the muscle bellies of the extensor carpi radialis longus and the extensor carpi radialis brevis and measures the intramuscular oxygenation through a continuous infrared light emission.	Change in Intramuscular oxygenation after 72 hours post-intervention
Secondary	Electromyographic activity	The electromyographic activity of the extensor muscles of the forearm was measured on the bellies of the extensor carpi radialis longus and the extensor carpi radialis brevis, placing the two electrodes in each of the muscle bellies, and a fifth electrode over the olecranon, which acts as a grounding. The Physioplux system was used for muscle contraction capture.	Change in Electromyographic activity after 72 hours post-intervention