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NCT Number: NCT06858293

Mental Imagery to Improve Quadriceps Strength Post Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: a Feasibility Study

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Marquette University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53233, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery
  • cleared to participate in physical therapy
  • currently in physical therapy related to ACLR

Exclusion criteria

  • 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
  • any uncontrolled medical condition
  • inability to follow 2-step commands

Treatment and study plan

Mental Imagery Open Chain

Behavioral

Participants 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

Behavioral

Participants 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.

Primary outcomes

  1. Feasibility of Intervention

    Time frame: Once per day for 5 days

    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.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Knee Extension Strength

    Time frame: Pre and post 5 days of mental imagery intervention

    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.

Other outcomes

  1. Walking speed

    Time frame: Pre and post 5 days of mental imagery intervention

    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.

  2. Knee range of motion

    Time frame: Pre and post 5 days of mental imagery intervention

    Active and passive range of motion for knee extension and flexion.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Allison S Hyngstrom, PT, Ph.D.

CONTACT

[email protected]

4142884566

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Marquette University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Mental Imagery of Open and Closed Chain Exercises to Improve Quadriceps Strength Post Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: a Feasibility Study

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Mar 5, 2025
Registry last updated
Mar 10, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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