Use of video observation and motor imagery on jumping performance in national rhythmic gymnastics athletes

• Published in: Human movement science 2014-12, Vol.38, p.225-234
• Main Authors: Battaglia, Claudia, D’Artibale, Emanuele, Fiorilli, Giovanni, Piazza, Marina, Tsopani, Despina, Giombini, Arrigo, Calcagno, Giuseppe, di Cagno, Alessandra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Athletes; Athletic Performance - physiology; Child; Enhancement; Exercise - physiology; Female; Gymnastics - physiology; Gymnasts; Humans; Leg; Modeling; Movement - physiology; Muscle Strength - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; PETTLEP; Physical Education and Training - methods; Reactivity; Reproducibility of Results; Resistance Training; Strength
• ISSN: 0167-9457; 1872-7646
• DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2014.10.001

•Six week-imagery protocol enhances stiffness and jump reactivity.•Action observation including in PETTLEP model exerts sport performance.•PETTLEP consent to personalized the imagery experience.•Imagery may reduce injuries produced by an excessive physic work load. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a mental training protocol could improve gymnastic jumping performance. Seventy-two rhythmic gymnasts were randomly divided into an experimental and control group. At baseline, experimental group completed the Movement Imagery Questionnaire Revised (MIQ-R) to assess the gymnast ability to generate movement imagery. A repeated measures design was used to compare two different types of training aimed at improving jumping performance: (a) video observation and PETTLEP mental training associated with physical practice, for the experimental group, and (b) physical practice alone for the control group. Before and after six weeks of training, their jumping performance was measured using the Hopping Test (HT), Drop Jump (DJ), and Counter Movement Jump (CMJ). Results revealed differences between jumping parameters F(1,71)=11.957; p