Document Detail


Does motor imagery enhance stretching and flexibility?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20077278     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Although several studies have demonstrated that motor imagery can enhance learning processes and improve motor performance, little is known about its effect on stretching and flexibility. The increased active and passive range of motion reported in preliminary research has not been shown to be elicited by motor imagery training alone. We thus compared flexibility scores in 21 synchronized swimmers before and after a 5-week mental practice programme that included five stretching exercises in active and passive conditions. The imagery training programme resulted in selective increased flexibility, independently of the stretching method. Overall, the improvement in flexibility was greater in the imagery group than in the control group for the front split (F(1,18) = 4.9, P = 0.04), the hamstrings (F(1,18) = 5.2, P = 0.035), and the ankle stretching exercises (F(1,18) = 5.6, P = 0.03). There was no difference in shoulders and side-split flexibility (F(1,18) = 0.1, P = 0.73 and F(1,18) = 3.3, P = 0.08 respectively). Finally, there was no correlation between individual imagery ability and improvement in flexibility. Psychological and physiological effects of motor imagery could explain the increase in range of motion, suggesting that imagery enhances joint flexibility during both active and passive stretching.
Authors:
Aymeric Guillot; Coralie Tolleron; Christian Collet
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Controlled Clinical Trial; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of sports sciences     Volume:  28     ISSN:  1466-447X     ISO Abbreviation:  J Sports Sci     Publication Date:  2010 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-04-14     Completed Date:  2010-08-02     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8405364     Medline TA:  J Sports Sci     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  291-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Centre de Recherche et d'Innovation sur le Sport, Universite Claude Bernard-Lyon 1, 27-29 Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, Lyon,Villeurbanne Cedex, France. chris.carling@free.fr
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Ankle / physiology
Female
Humans
Imagery (Psychotherapy)*
Leg / physiology
Mental Processes / physiology*
Muscle Contraction / physiology
Muscle Stretching Exercises / methods*
Muscle, Skeletal / physiology*
Pliability / physiology*
Psychomotor Performance*
Range of Motion, Articular / physiology*
Shoulder / physiology
Swimming / physiology,  psychology

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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