Inmediate Effect of the Visualization of Action

The observation of actions and motor imagery has demonstrated the activation of certain mechanisms similar to those that occur during active movement, which could induce immediate changes in the amplitudes of movement and sensorimotor variables in observed and imagined movements. The main aim of the study was test the immediate effect of a protocol of observed actions and motor imagery on cervical range of motion and pain intensity in patients with non-specific chronic neck pain (NSCNP). Randomized double-blind clinical trial in patients with DCCI at a primary health care center in the Community of Madrid. A random distribution of study subjects was made into two groups: a) cervical motion videos were presented at full range of motion and b) the videos presented showed a range of motion limited to 40%. In both groups, visualization tasks of actions were alternated with internal kinesthetic motor imagery, in periods of 1min in 2 consecutive series and with a total of 12 minutes of intervention. Cervical range of motion was assessed with a cervical goniometer and pain intensity immediately following the intervention with an Analog Visual Scale.