Investigation of the Effect of Mental Imagery Training on Electrical Fluctuation of Muscles Motor Units and Muscles Strength in Lower Limbs

Authors

  • Akbar Zeraatpishe
  • Seyed Mohammad Niazi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22100/jkh.v8i4.49

Keywords:

Mental practice, Strength, Electromyography, Maximal voluntary contraction

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of mental imagery training on electrical fluctuation of muscles motor units and muscles strength in lower limbs.

Methods: In this study, 30 healthy, previously untrained students with the mean age of 22.4±1.25 years, the mean height of 176.18±5.62 cm, and the mean weight of 67.65±6.15 were randomly assigned to a mental practice group (n=15) or control group (n=15). Mental practice group trained mental contraction of plantar flexion movement for 4 weeks (5 day per week), and control group did not train but participated in all measurements. The practice program included 50 mental maximal voluntary contractions for 2 sets of 25 repetitions. To determine the statistical difference in variables of the study the t-student test was used with the significant level of P≤0.05.

Results: The results of this study indicated that mental practice group significantly increased their plantar flexor maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) (P≤0.05). Also mental practice group significantly increased their gastronomies muscle EMG (P≤0.05). We concluded that mental practice can increase strength plantar flexor muscle, and this strength gain is attributed to the training-induced changes caused by programming central nervous system which increases activation level of agonist muscles and decreases activation level in antagonist muscles.

Conclusion: Results showed that imagery training can affect athletic performance.

References

Richard H. Sport psychology concepts and application. 5th ed, McGraw-hill, 2002.

Smith D. Collins D. Mental practice, motor performance and the late mvc, journal of sport & Exercise psychology 2004;21(2) 412-421.

Herbert R. Effects of real and imagined training on voluntary muscle activation during maximal isometric contraction, Journal of physiological Scandinavia1998;163(3):361-368.

Konrad P. The ABC of EMG, a practical introduction to kinesiological electromyography. www.ac.wwu.edu / Chalmers / ABC of EMG. Version 1. April 2005.

Moran A. conceptual and methodological issues in the measurement of mental imagery skills in athletes. Journal of sport behavior 1993;16(2):156-170.

Vinothk B. from mental power to muscle power- gaining strength by using the mind, Journal of neuropsychological 2004;42(3):944-956.

Zehra F. improvement strategies in Free-throw shooting and grip- strength tasks, journal of general psychology 2000;11(1):145-155.

Jafari H. Timing and level of electrical activity in the muscles around the knee joint movement patterns of activation and reactivity in healthy men, [dissertation]. Faculty of Rehabilitation at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 2002.[Persian].

Hosseini A. Effect of isotonic exercise training on electromyography in Athletes, 2003. [Dissertation]. Guilan University Faculty of physical education.[Persian].

Shakeri H. The effect of quadriceps strengthening exercises, especially on one side of the quadriceps muscles of both limbs EMG views, 1994. [dissertation]. Faculty of Rehabilitation at Tehran University of Medical Sciences.[Persian].

Sideway B. can mental practice increase ankle dorsi flexor torque. Journal of the American Physical Therapy Associatition 2005;24(3):85-100.

Ranganathan V. Increasing muscle strength by training the central nervous system without physical exercise. Journal of Neuroscience 2001;31(3):97-118.

Ranganathan V, Siemionow V, Liu Z. From mental power to muscle power- gaining strength by using the mind, neuropsychological 2004;42(1):944-951.

Broughton A. Mechanisms are the most important determinants of strength adaptations, Exercise Physiology Educational Resources 2001;11(3):44-53.

Hall C, Martin K. measuring movement imagery abilities; A revision of movement imagery Questionnaire, journal of mental imagery 1997;21(3):143-154.

Richard A, Magill N. motor learning and control concepts and applications, seventh edition, McGraw-hill, 2004.

Smith D, Collins D. Impact and mechanism of mental practice effects on strength. Journal of Sport Psychology 2003;1(3):293-301.

Vealy N, Greenl V. setting is believing; understanding and using imagery in sport. Journal Applied Sport Psychology 2001;12(2): 23-32.

Theo M. The role of motor imagery in learning a totally novel movement. Journal of Brain 2004;154(4):211-217.

Published

2013-07-02

Issue

Section

Original Article(s)

How to Cite

Investigation of the Effect of Mental Imagery Training on Electrical Fluctuation of Muscles Motor Units and Muscles Strength in Lower Limbs. (2013). Knowledge and Health in Basic Medical Sciences, 8(4), Page:171-175. https://doi.org/10.22100/jkh.v8i4.49

Most read articles by the same author(s)

<< < 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 > >>