2022 Volume 2 Pages 17-24
Purpose: In this study, we investigated the effect of motor imagery after exercise on precision pinch force control and excitability of spinal motor neural function.
Methods: We analyzed 13 healthy participants (mean age 20.3 ± 0.5 years). F-waves were recorded at rest, the pinch force was adjusted to 50% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), and the error between the specified and actual 50% MVC values were calculated in the pinch task. After that, F-waves were recorded in kinesthetic- and first-person visual imagery on different days in random order, and the pinch task was performed again. The amplitude F/M ratio was used as a measure of the excitability of spinal motor neural function, and the absolute error in 50% MVC was used as a measure of the accuracy of the movement.
Results: There was no change in the amplitude F/M ratio or in the absolute error improvement in 50% MVC between the imaging strategies.
Conclusion: The similarity between first-person visual imagery and kinesthetic imagery in terms of motor imagery from a first-person perspective resulted in the same degree of increased spinal motor neural function excitability and maintained precision pinch force control.
