The Effect of Action Observation and Motor Imagery Combinations on Upper Limb Kinematics and EMG during Dart Throwing

Romano Smith, S, Wood, G ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0851-7090, Coyles, C, Roberts, JW and Wakefield, CJ (2019) The Effect of Action Observation and Motor Imagery Combinations on Upper Limb Kinematics and EMG during Dart Throwing. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 29 (12). pp. 1917-1929. ISSN 0905-7188

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Abstract

Recent research has begun to employ interventions that combine action observation and motor imagery (AOMI) with positive results. However, little is known about the underpinning facilitative effect on performance. Participants (n=50) were randomly allocated to one of five training groups: action observation (AO), motor imagery (MI), simultaneous action observation and motor imagery (S‐AOMI), alternate action observation and motor imagery (A‐AOMI) and control. The task involved dart‐throwing at a concentric circle dartboard at pre‐ and post‐test. Interventions were conducted 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Data were collected from performance outcomes and mean muscle activation of the upper and forearm muscles. Angular velocity and peak angular velocity measurements of the elbow were also collected from the throwing arm. Results showed performance of the A‐AOMI group improved to a significantly greater degree than the AO (p = 0.04), MI (p = 0.04), and control group (p = 0.02), and the S‐AOMI group improved to a greater degree than the control group (p = 0.02). Mean muscle activation of the triceps brachii significantly reduced in the S‐AOMI and A‐AOMI (p < 0.01) groups and participants in the AO (p= 0.04), A‐AOMI and S‐AOMI (p < 0.01) groups significantly reduced activation in the bicep brachii from pre to post‐test. Peak angular velocity significant decreased from pre‐ to post‐test in both A‐AOMI and S‐AOMI (p < 0.01) groups. The results reaffirm the benefits of AOMI for facilitating skill learning and provide an insight how these interventions produce favourable changes in EMG and movement kinematics.

Item Type:	Article
Peer-reviewed:	Yes
Date Deposited:	07 Aug 2019 08:39
Publisher:	Wiley
Additional Information:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article:The Effect of Action Observation and Motor Imagery Combinations on Upper Limb Kinematics and EMG during Dart Throwing, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13534. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
Divisions:	Faculties > Science and Engineering
Subject terms:	Aiming, Motor skill learning, Observational learning, Simulation, Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Sport Sciences, aiming, motor skill learning, observational learning, simulation, CORTICOSPINAL EXCITABILITY, MOVEMENT, PERFORMANCE, IMITATION, VOLUNTARY, ACCURACY, PATTERNS, ABILITY, STATES, BRAIN, Upper Extremity, Muscle, Skeletal, Humans, Electromyography, Imagination, Psychomotor Performance, Adult, Female, Male, Young Adult, Biomechanical Phenomena, Physical Conditioning, Human, aiming, motor skill learning, observational learning, simulation, Adult, Biomechanical Phenomena, Electromyography, Female, Humans, Imagination, Male, Muscle, Skeletal, Physical Conditioning, Human, Psychomotor Performance, Upper Extremity, Young Adult, 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 1116 Medical Physiology, Sport Sciences
Report number:	sms.13534
URI:	https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/623662
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13534
ISSN	0905-7188
e-ISSN	1600-0838

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