Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40611093›Full record

Trial reportBMC musculoskeletal disorders2025

Graded motor imagery as an adjunct to comprehensive physiotherapy in chronic rotator cuff-related pain: a single blind randomized controlled trial.

Seda Sırlan, Nuray Alaca, Hacı Ahmet Yarar, Onur Başcı

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06092489 (The Effectiveness of Graded Motor Imagery Therapy Applied in Addition to the Traditional Physiotherapy Program in Chronic Rotator Cuff-related Shoulder Pain.), which is not on this map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06092489 nacompletednot on this map

The Effectiveness of Graded Motor Imagery Therapy Applied in Addition to the Traditional Physiotherapy Program in Chronic Rotator Cuff-related Shoulder Pain.

TypeinterventionalSponsorNuray AlacaRan2023 to 2024Enrolled30ConditionsChronic Pain, Shoulder PainArmsgraded motor imagery, traditional physiotherapy method
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Seda SırlanDepartment of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University, Institute of Health Sciences, Icerenkoy Mah. Kayısdagı Cad. No:32, Atasehir, Istanbul, 34752, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-0422-3115
Nuray AlacaDepartment of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University, Institute of Health Sciences, Icerenkoy Mah. Kayısdagı Cad. No:32, Atasehir, Istanbul, 34752, Turkey. nuray.alaca@acibadem.edu.tr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3034-9388
Hacı Ahmet YararDepartment of Orthopedic Physiotherapy, Dokuz Eylül University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Izmir, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2719-3255
Onur BaşcıDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Dokuz Eylül University Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1689-0346

Funding

Acıbadem University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit as part of the Graduate Thesis Projects TYL-2023-132
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChronic rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (C-RCRSP) may involve central sensitization and cortical changes. Graded motor imagery (GMI) targets these mechanisms, but its use in C-RCRSP is underexplored.

objectiveThis study aims to evaluate the effects of GMI to comprehensive physiotherapy on pain, mechanical sensitivity, laterality judgment, motor imagery ability, central sensitization symptoms, two-point discrimination, pain-related fear and patient satisfaction in patients with C-RCRSP.

methodsIn this single-blind randomized controlled trial, 30 participants with C-RCRSP were randomized into two groups: comprehensive physiotherapy alone (CP) or combined with GMI (CP + GMI). Interventions were delivered twice weekly for six weeks. Outcomes included pain intensity, mechanical sensitivity, two-point discrimination, functionality, laterality judgment, motor imagery ability, central sensitization symptoms, pain-related fear and patient satisfaction.

resultsBoth groups showed significant within-group improvements in pain intensity, range of motion, functionality, and pain-related fear (p < 0.05). The CP + GMI group demonstrated earlier reductions in pain intensity and improvements in mechanical sensitivity, laterality judgment, motor imagery skills (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found within or between groups in central sensitization symptoms and two-point discrimination (p > 0.05). A higher proportion of participants in CP + GMI rated their recovery as "much better" compared to CP (p = 0.05).

conclusionThis study highlights that both groups showed significant improvements in pain, range of motion, functionality, and pain-related fear. However, adding GMI therapy led to faster pain relief, better mechanical sensitivity, improved motor imagery skills, and greater treatment satisfaction, warranting further research with larger samples and extended follow-ups to confirm its broader applicability.

trial registrationThe study was approved by the local ethics committee (Reference No. ATADEK- 2023/21-13) and registered as a US National Library of Medicine Clinical Trial (Registration No: NCT06092489, Date: 13.10.2023).

Indexed as

Chronic PainImagery, PsychotherapyPhysical Therapy ModalitiesRotator Cuff InjuriesShoulder PainAdultAgedCombined Modality TherapyFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementPatient SatisfactionRange of Motion, ArticularRotator CuffCentral nervous system sensitizationChronic painImageryMirror therapyPain thresholdsRehabilitationRotator cuff injuriesShoulder pain

Identifiers

PMID40611093
PMCPMC12224718

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.