Non-physical practice improves task performance in an unstable, perturbed environment: Motor imagery and observational balance training
For consciously performed motor tasks executed in a defined and constant way, both motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) have been shown to promote motor learning. It is not known whether these forms of non-physical training also improve motor actions when these actions have to be variably...
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doaj-d929d8efbaca41e0987ce4e9467c96c52020-11-25T03:00:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612014-12-01810.3389/fnhum.2014.00972110843Non-physical practice improves task performance in an unstable, perturbed environment: Motor imagery and observational balance trainingWolfgang eTaube0Michael eLorch1Sibylle eZeiter2Martin eKeller3University of FribourgUniversity of FreiburgUniversities of Geneva and LausanneUniversity of FribourgFor consciously performed motor tasks executed in a defined and constant way, both motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) have been shown to promote motor learning. It is not known whether these forms of non-physical training also improve motor actions when these actions have to be variably applied in an unstable and unpredictable environment. The present study therefore investigated the influence of MI balance training (MI_BT) and a balance training combining AO and MI (AO+MI_BT) on postural control of undisturbed and disturbed upright stance on unstable ground. As spinal reflex excitability after classical (i.e., physical) balance training (BT) is generally decreased, we tested whether non-physical BT also has an impact on spinal reflex circuits. Thirty-six participants were randomly allocated into an MI_BT group, in which participants imagined postural exercises, an AO+MI_BT group, in which participants observed videos of other people performing balance exercises and imagined being the person in the video, and a non-active control group (CON). Before and after 4 weeks of non-physical training, balance performance was assessed on a free-moving platform during stance without perturbation and during perturbed stance. Soleus H-reflexes were recorded during stable and unstable stance. The post measurement revealed significantly decreased postural sway during undisturbed and disturbed stance after both MI_BT and AO+MI_BT. Spinal reflex excitability remained unchanged. This is the first study showing that non-physical training (MI_BT and AO+MI_BT) not only promotes motor learning of ‘rigid’ postural tasks but also improves performance of highly variable and unpredictable balance actions. These findings may be relevant to improve postural control and thus reduce the risk of falls in temporarily immobilized patients.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00972/fullBalance controlobservational learningmental trainingposture controlmotor imagery learning |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Wolfgang eTaube Michael eLorch Sibylle eZeiter Martin eKeller |
spellingShingle |
Wolfgang eTaube Michael eLorch Sibylle eZeiter Martin eKeller Non-physical practice improves task performance in an unstable, perturbed environment: Motor imagery and observational balance training Frontiers in Human Neuroscience Balance control observational learning mental training posture control motor imagery learning |
author_facet |
Wolfgang eTaube Michael eLorch Sibylle eZeiter Martin eKeller |
author_sort |
Wolfgang eTaube |
title |
Non-physical practice improves task performance in an unstable, perturbed environment: Motor imagery and observational balance training |
title_short |
Non-physical practice improves task performance in an unstable, perturbed environment: Motor imagery and observational balance training |
title_full |
Non-physical practice improves task performance in an unstable, perturbed environment: Motor imagery and observational balance training |
title_fullStr |
Non-physical practice improves task performance in an unstable, perturbed environment: Motor imagery and observational balance training |
title_full_unstemmed |
Non-physical practice improves task performance in an unstable, perturbed environment: Motor imagery and observational balance training |
title_sort |
non-physical practice improves task performance in an unstable, perturbed environment: motor imagery and observational balance training |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
issn |
1662-5161 |
publishDate |
2014-12-01 |
description |
For consciously performed motor tasks executed in a defined and constant way, both motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) have been shown to promote motor learning. It is not known whether these forms of non-physical training also improve motor actions when these actions have to be variably applied in an unstable and unpredictable environment. The present study therefore investigated the influence of MI balance training (MI_BT) and a balance training combining AO and MI (AO+MI_BT) on postural control of undisturbed and disturbed upright stance on unstable ground. As spinal reflex excitability after classical (i.e., physical) balance training (BT) is generally decreased, we tested whether non-physical BT also has an impact on spinal reflex circuits. Thirty-six participants were randomly allocated into an MI_BT group, in which participants imagined postural exercises, an AO+MI_BT group, in which participants observed videos of other people performing balance exercises and imagined being the person in the video, and a non-active control group (CON). Before and after 4 weeks of non-physical training, balance performance was assessed on a free-moving platform during stance without perturbation and during perturbed stance. Soleus H-reflexes were recorded during stable and unstable stance. The post measurement revealed significantly decreased postural sway during undisturbed and disturbed stance after both MI_BT and AO+MI_BT. Spinal reflex excitability remained unchanged. This is the first study showing that non-physical training (MI_BT and AO+MI_BT) not only promotes motor learning of ‘rigid’ postural tasks but also improves performance of highly variable and unpredictable balance actions. These findings may be relevant to improve postural control and thus reduce the risk of falls in temporarily immobilized patients. |
topic |
Balance control observational learning mental training posture control motor imagery learning |
url |
http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00972/full |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT wolfgangetaube nonphysicalpracticeimprovestaskperformanceinanunstableperturbedenvironmentmotorimageryandobservationalbalancetraining AT michaelelorch nonphysicalpracticeimprovestaskperformanceinanunstableperturbedenvironmentmotorimageryandobservationalbalancetraining AT sibylleezeiter nonphysicalpracticeimprovestaskperformanceinanunstableperturbedenvironmentmotorimageryandobservationalbalancetraining AT martinekeller nonphysicalpracticeimprovestaskperformanceinanunstableperturbedenvironmentmotorimageryandobservationalbalancetraining |
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