Effects of Different Ratios of Physical and Mental Practice on Postural Control Improvement

Mental practice (MP) is a reliable alternative or complement to physical practice (PP) for the training of postural control. We address how MP should ideally be combined with PP. Participants were assigned to four experimental groups where MP/PP ratios during training varied from 0 to 100%. Performance improved only for demanding postural adjustments, regardless of MP/PP ratio, and learning was partially consolidated after a night of sleep. Findings reinforce the relevance of MP for the training of weight shifting and further suggest that MP alone can be as efficient as PP for the learning of certain complex postural adjustments.