Work

New insights on mind-muscle connection: Motor imagery concomitant to actual resistance training enhances force performance

Year: 2025

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: Objectives Motor imagery (MI) practice has shown substantial benefits on force, but this was mostly demonstrated on force produced by isometric contractions in laboratory settings. Here, we tested a new type of MI intervention to improve force and power in expert athletes. Design CrossFit® athletes ( n = 100) of national level were randomly assigned to experimental groups who completed a 5-week back squat training program (3 resistance training sessions/week, ~1 h per week). A first group ( n = 35) received instructions to perform kinesthetic MI of the concentric phase of the back squat concomitant to its physical execution (MI CONCENTRIC ). A second group ( n = 35) performed kinesthetic MI of the eccentric phase concomitant to its physical execution (M ECCENTRIC ). A control group ( n = 30) completed the same amount of physical training without engaging in MI (Control). Methods Performance was indexed from the 5 repetition maximum (5 RM) squat workload before and after the intervention. Weekly, we assessed squat power using an accelerometer. Results MI CONCENTRIC and MI ECCENTRIC groups outperformed Control regarding pretest vs. posttest improvements in both 5 RM force and power (R P 2 = 0.60, both p < 0.001). The MI ECCENTRIC group also outperformed the MI CONCENTRIC group for the 5 RM workload (R P 2 = 0.27, p < 0.001). However, subjective evaluations revealed that athletes in the MI ECCENTRIC group experienced higher effort perception and difficulty to complete the experimental task. Conclusions MI practice concomitant to physical training was efficient to improve force on a dynamic multi-joint exercise in expert athletes.

Source: Journal of science and medicine in sport

DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2025.03.005

Authors: Éric Piveteau, Aymeric Guillot, Franck Di Rienzo

Institutions: Lyon 1 Université, Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité

Language: English

Topic: Sport Psychology and Performance

Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,720