Investigation of the Effect of Motor Imagery Training in Individuals With Cervical Discogenic Pain

Investigation of the Effect of Motor Imagery Training on Pain, Pain Beliefs, Functional Status and Neck Awareness in Individuals With Cervical Discogenic Pain

In this study, motor control exercises including cervical region, upper extremity and scapular region muscles will be applied routinely in individuals with chronic neck pain. The application will been investigating, called motor imagery training, will been carried out together with motor control exercises.

This training is a mental exercise method based on imagining exercises that are performed actively without any interventional application inside or outside the body, in a comfortable environment and without fatigue. It is thought that motor imagery training applied together with motor control exercises will contribute to the management of chronic neck pain due to cervical disc herniation and symptoms related to pain.

All individuals with cervical discogenic pain who met the inclusion criteria were assigned to '1. Group' and '2. It will be divided into two groups. It is planned to include approximately 20 individuals with cervical discogenic pain in each group. The sample size of the study will be determined by the power analysis to be made as a result of the pilot study to be carried out on 10 patients with the support of Biostatistics USA.

Group 1: (estimated) 20 Individuals with Cervical Discogenic Pain Group 2: (estimated) 20 Individuals with Cervical Discogenic Pain

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being between the ages of 18 and 65,
• Having a diagnosis of cervical disc herniation based on MRI findings, clinical, and physical examination,
• Experiencing neck pain for 3 months or longer,
• Having a resting pain intensity rated 3-7 (moderate severity) on the "Visual Analog Scale" for pain assessment (36),
• Classifying neck pain according to the 'Neck Pain Task Force' clinical classification system as Grade 3 (neck pain with accompanying neurological symptoms) or above,
• Having a Mini-Mental Test score of 24 or higher for the evaluation of cognitive functions.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having a history of spinal tumor, spinal deformities, congenital malformation, or head trauma,
• Undergoing cervical spine surgery in the last 6 months,
• Having a presence of systemic, cardiorespiratory, central nervous system, or rheumatic diseases, any musculoskeletal or craniocervical disorders, or a history of headache.