Motor Imagery-Supported Thoracic Expansion in Children With Spina Bifida

This study will investigate whether adding motor imagery to thoracic expansion exercises can improve respiratory function in children with spina bifida. Motor imagery involves mentally imagining a movement or bodily action without physically performing an additional movement. Children with spina bifida will participate in two exercise sessions separated by a 14-day washout period. In one session, participants will perform thoracic expansion exercises alone. In the other session, the same thoracic expansion exercises will be combined with guided motor imagery. The order of the two sessions will be randomized. Respiratory function will be assessed before and immediately after each session. The primary outcome will be the change in forced vital capacity (FVC). Additional outcomes will include forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory flow at 25-75% of forced vital capacity (FEF25-75), peak expiratory flow (PEF), chest expansion, and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2). The study aims to determine whether combining motor imagery with thoracic expansion exercises produces greater immediate improvements in respiratory function than thoracic expansion exercises alone.