Enhancing endurance performance with combined imagined and actual physical practice

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

• Perception of effort significantly impacts endurance performance and task failure.
• Combined physical and cognitive training interventions show promise for performance enhancement.
• Motor imagery is a cognitive technique that may reduce perceived effort.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if combining motor imagery with physical training enhances endurance performance.
• To determine the effect of this combined training on perceived effort and muscle pain.

Main Methods:

• 24 participants (mean age 24 years) were randomized into motor imagery (n=16) or control (n=17) groups.
• Both groups underwent 12 physical training sessions (wall squat) over 14 days; the motor imagery group also performed motor imagery.
• Endurance was assessed via sustained isometric knee extension to failure at 20% or 40% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) pre- and post-training.

Main Results:

• No significant changes in endurance performance were observed in the control group.
• The motor imagery group showed improved endurance performance when exercise intensity matched training intensity (20% MVC).
• Muscle pain perception decreased in the motor imagery group post-training, with no change in perceived effort.

Conclusions:

• Combining motor imagery with physical training can enhance endurance performance, especially when exercise intensity aligns with training.
• This combined approach may also be effective in managing muscle pain perception.
• Further research is warranted to explore applications in diverse performance and rehabilitation settings.