Effectiveness of motor imagery on sports performance in football players: A randomised control trial.
Jaruwan Prasomsri, Bunthita Thueman, Pichamon Yuenyong and 3 others
PMID 38577393WHAT IT FOUND
Motor imagery added to routine training improved 20m sprint speed, agility, and reaction time in football players.
However, it did not improve 10m or 40m speed. The benefit appeared in both university and amateur players, but the study did not compare motor imagery directly against a no-treatment control.
Key findings
01There was no significant difference in improvement between the motor imagery group and the control group for any outcome.
02Participants in the motor imagery group showed significant pre-to-post improvement in 20m speed, agility, and reaction time.
03The control group also showed significant improvement in 20m speed, but no other outcomes.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The control group received a 'sham' intervention involving video and relaxation, not a true no-treatment baseline. This makes it difficult to isolate the effect of motor imagery from the effects of rest, attention, or general relaxation. The study was underpowered for its intended design. The sample size calculation required 47 participants, but only 48 completed the study across four groups (12 per group), leaving no margin for the 7 dropouts. The intervention lasted only two weeks, so it is unknown whether the improvements are retained long-term. All participants were male, so results may not apply to female football players.
Declared interests
The study was supported by a scholarship from the Faculty of Medicine of Prince of Songkla University. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that motor imagery is superior to other forms of mental preparation or rest. The control group, which watched nature videos and listened to music, also improved in 20m sprint speed, and there were no significant differences between the motor imagery and control groups for any outcome.