Volume 19, Issue 1

Objectives The main aim of this study was to assess the effects of a single session motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) plus physical exercise (PE) on lumbo-pelvic sensorimotor function. Methods Thirty-six healthy women were randomized into three groups: MI (n=12), AO (n=12), or sham observation (SO) group (n=12). All the groups performed PE consisting of a combination of aerobic and strengthening exercises. The outcome measures included lumbo-pelvic motor control, pressure pain threshold (PPT) in lumbar and tibialis anterior region, and pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength. A pre- and post-intervention evaluation was conducted. Results Regarding the lumbo-pelvic motor control, only the AO group showed significant within-group differences with a moderate effect size (mean difference (MD)=−3.55 mmHg (−6.6 to −0.5), p=0.023, d =−0.56). With respect to the PPT in the lumbar region, only the MI group showed significant within-group differences with a small effect size (MD=0.775 kg/cm 2 (0.35–1.2), p=0.001, d =0.44). No statistically significant PFM strength gain was found (p>0.05). Finally, no between-group differences were found (p>0.05). Conclusions MI and AO training plus PE had a slight impact on lumbo-pelvic sensorimotor function such as motor control or local pain sensitivity when applied in a single session.

Objectives Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly being used for sports purposes, including tactical learning. However, the instructional efficiency of this emerging technology remains unclear, especially when considering learners’ cognitive abilities, such as visuospatial abilities (VSA). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of VSA in memorizing soccer tactics under immersive (VR) and non-immersive (animation) conditions. Methods The experiment involved a group of 52 adult male soccer beginners. Initially, participants’ VSA were assessed using six computerized tasks. Subsequently, participants were tasked with memorizing and reproducing tactical soccer scenes in VR and animation formats. Results The results revealed a significant interaction, indicating that beginners with high-VSA were more efficient at memorizing scenes through animation than VR, supporting the ability-as-enhancer hypothesis. Conversely, those with low-VSA benefited equally from both visualizations, despite being more accurate in recalling scenes through VR. Conclusions Findings suggest that coaches should pay attention when using new technologies such as VR and consider individuals’ levels of VSA to improve their communication and learning sessions.

Objectives Assessing imagery ability could be important for clinicians to understand or speculate on the limit of a patient’s physical ability in chronic pain conditions. We aimed to assess imagery ability that is potentially affected in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). In addition, pain characteristics and associational factors between pain and imagery abilities were examined. Methods Patients with FMF group (n=30) and control group (n=30) were included into the study. Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) was questioned in both groups to assess imagery ability. McGill Pain Questionnaire Form (MPQ) and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) were used to assess pain. Results There was a statistically significant difference in all sub-scores of the MIQ-3 imagery levels between FMF and the control group (p<0.05). Mean value for PCS was 23.27 ± 12.52 in which 13 (43.3 %) of the patients had higher scores than 30 indicating catastrophic thoughts. Conclusions It was determined that the imagery scores of the patients with FMF were lower than the control group. Patients who had catastrophic thoughts showed more scores in IVI scores indicating that the attention processes of these patients to their bodies might be affected. Further large-scale, long-term, prospective, randomized-controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Objectives The study aimed to expand the knowledge of cardiorespiratory response patterns while engaging in multifunctional imagery-assisted biofeedback training in a young cricketer. Methods The athlete was asked to engage in imagery (e.g. facing the bowler in an over: six ball) and cardiorespiratory responses were monitored using biofeedback equipment. The study involved a total of 19 sessions. Phases 1 & 2 focused on need analysis and action plan respectively and phases 3 to 5 focused on imagery–assisted biofeedback training viz. Motivational Specific-MS (six sessions); Motivational General-Mastery MG-M (six sessions); Cognitive Specific-CS-PETTLEP (7 sessions). The qualitative feedback was taken after each session from phases 3 to 5. Results A higher heart rate (HR) was observed while facing the second ball in an over during MS (83 % of the time) and MG-M type of imagery (50 % of the time). While doing CS imagery, the higher HR was observed while facing the fifth ball in an over (57 % of the time). No consistent pattern was observed in the respiration rate (RR) while engaging in imagery training. The athlete’s feedback revealed that in MS and MG-M, the initial attention was on staying focused while facing the bowler. During the CS imagery, the difference in the HR patterns probably happened because the athlete focused on appropriate skill execution. Conclusions Understanding an athlete’s cardiorespiratory patterns can be helpful in training an athlete's self-regulation to reach the optimal zone of functioning.

Objectives Research suggests that imagery can be enhanced by incorporating action observation into theoretically based imagery interventions. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of PETTLEP imagery intervention on strength performance. Methods All individuals completed the Mental Imagery Questionnaire-III and were tested on peak force production with the quadriceps and hamstrings using the Biodex dynamometer. Participants were randomly placed into imagery with action observation (IAO), physical practice (PP), or control (CON) groups for a five-week intervention. Following post-testing, individuals completed the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI). Results Both PP and IAO significantly improved in isometric quadriceps peak force production when compared to CON (p<0.05). Additionally, PP significantly increased peak force production during isokinetic testing with the quadriceps (p<0.05). No significant changes were observed in the hamstrings (p>0.05). No group differences were found in IMI scores (p>0.05). Conclusions The practical and theoretical implications for this research are discussed.

Objectives To identify which functions of imagery are most frequently used by elite athletes, whether imagery usage differs between training and competing contexts, if imagery use differs between genders, and whether any gender differences in imagery use interacts with training and competition contexts. Methods 62 elite male and female cricketers and Australian Football League players participants completed the Sports Imagery Questionnaire in both training and competition contexts. Results Motivational general-mastery imagery (MG-M) imagery was significantly the most frequently used imagery function, with male athletes reporting using imagery significantly more frequently than female athletes. Furthermore, a significant gender by context interaction demonstrated that the male athletes used imagery significantly more frequently before competing compared to before training, whilst conversely the female athletes used imagery significantly more frequently prior to training compared to competition. Conclusions Future research should further explore the potential benefits of imagery in female athletic populations by using imagery interventions that are sufficiently bespoke for the needs of female athletes.

Objectives Motor imagery is widely used to enhance patients’ response to treatment via cognitive and neurophysiological processes. As a result, cross-cultural validation of the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3) in the Greek population was deemed necessary. Methods The cross-cultural adaptation method in Greek was followed for the MIQ-3. It was then administered to 150 participants and its face, construct validity (exploratory factor analysis and known-groups validity), test-retest reliability, and internal consistency were assessed. Results The MIQ-3 demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α=0.90). The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for test-retest reliability of each factor were low: ICC=0.049−0.293. However, the standard error of the measurement (SEM) data was within acceptable limits (13.5–17.2 % of the grand mean) for all three sub-sections of the MIQ-3. Factor analysis confirmed the three-factor structure of the questionnaire. No differences between male and female participants or those with different levels of athletic involvement (intensity of physical activity and practice level) were identified. Conclusions The MIQ-3 appears to be a valid instrument that can be used to assess motor imagery in a Greek population. It can be uniformly applied to participants of different sexes and athletic involvement. Its reliability, though, requires further research.