The Benefits of Motor Imagery on Upper Limb Strength

Abstract

Motor Imagery (MI) is a dynamic state in which an individual mentally stimulates a given action, without an actual motor output. The primary function is to allow the individual to generate a specific predetermined and possible outcome based on past experiences. A generous portion of MI research is primarily focused on rehabilitation rather than a strength training setting. In many cases when a patient is unable to execute a physical movement, the next most relevant scenario is to visualize the execution of that specific movement. Research suggests an increase in strength may be due to an improvement of the motor skill and their neural adaptations when using MI in junction with physical practice. MI for the purposes of this study will consist of having the participants visualize themselves bench-pressing in between their sets. They are prompted to not only imagine the given sets but to also be kinesthetically aware of their body during their rest intervals.