Mental Imagery to Improve Quadriceps Strength Post Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: a Feasibility Study
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorMarquette University
About this trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to understand if people recovering from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery will complete mental imagery training and if this will improve their injured leg's strength. The main questions are:
* Will people complete a five-day mental imagery exercise schedule while in physical therapy for ACLR? * Does mental imagery exercise help raise leg strength during ACLR recovery? Researchers will also compare if different mental imagery exercises involving leg extension or squats will change leg strength.
Participants will be asked to:
* Participate in two testing sessions to make measurements of leg function * Complete about 10 minutes of mental imagery exercises once per day for five days at home and write down whether they complete the exercises.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery
cleared to participate in physical therapy
currently in physical therapy related to ACLR
Disqualifiers
greater than 9 months post ACLR surgery
history of lower back of hip pain that would limit lower limb motor testing
current neurological condition that limits muscle strength
history of substance abuse in the last 5 years
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Mental Imagery Open Chain
BehavioralParticipants will receive a paper packet with instructions to imagine themselves performing seated maximal leg extension exercises. They will be instructed to imagine the feeling of the exercise for 5 seconds, rest for 5 seconds, and repeat this 50 times with a 2-minute rest period after the 25th repetition. They will also be asked to keep track of the exercises with tallies on a table within the packet and also to record on this table if they did not complete the exercises for that day. The participant is asked to perform the exercises on five consecutive days.
Mental Imagery Closed Chain
BehavioralParticipants will receive a paper packet with instructions to imagine themselves performing maximal standing squat exercises. They will be instructed to imagine the feeling of the exercise for 5 seconds, rest for 5 seconds, and repeat this 50 times with a 2-minute rest period after the 25th repetition. They will also be asked to keep track of the exercises with tallies on a table within the packet and also to record on this table if they did not complete the exercises for that day. The participant is asked to perform the exercises on five consecutive days.
Treatment groups
20 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Mental Imagery Open ChainExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Mental Imagery Closed ChainExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Feasibility of Intervention
At the end of the paper packet with instructions for mental imagery exercises, there will be a survey in which participants will record whether or not they have completed the exercises. They will be instructed to fill out this form each day even if they have not done the exercise. Investigators will assess how many days participants complete the exercises.
Time frame
Once per day for 5 daysSecondary outcomes
1
Knee Extension Strength
Maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) of the knee extensors will be conducted while the participant is seated in a Biodex Dynamometer and secured with waist and trunk straps. This will involve the participant kicking as hard as they can over 2-5 seconds. Participants will be verbally encouraged to achieve maximal force, and they will be able to see a monitor with visual instruction. Participants will be provided at least 60 seconds of rest between trials, and 5 trials will be performed. If the fifth trial produces a force more than 5% greater than any other trial, additional trials may be performed.
Time frame
Pre and post 5 days of mental imagery interventionOther outcomes
1
Walking speed
Participants will be asked to complete the Ten Meter Walk Test which assesses self-selected and fast walking speed over the middle 6 meters of a 10-meter distance. They will walk at their self-selected and fast walking speed 3 times each over the 10-meter distance, and average speeds will be calculated.
Time frame
Pre and post 5 days of mental imagery intervention2
Knee range of motion
Active and passive range of motion for knee extension and flexion.
Time frame
Pre and post 5 days of mental imagery interventionSponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov