Effect of an Imagery Training on Biomechanical Aspects of a Sport Skill in Gymnasts of the Met Chia Club

Introduction: Imagery and action observation allow to mentally simulate movements and therefore to train cognitive aspects of learning, memory, and motor control, however, its potential as a training tool for children is unknown. This research aimed to propose a design of imagery training, which evaluates the effect on biomechanical aspects of the execution of a basic sport skill in an early-age initiation sport, such as artistic gymnastics. Materials and Methods: Biomechanical sensors were used to evaluate the performance of the back arch in 5 gymnasts between the ages of 7 and 12, in addition, the skill questionnaire for imagery in sport (CHID) and the Children’s Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-3) were applied. Subsequently, a training of 14 sessions of imagery was performed, varying its difficulty and specificity. A post-intervention evaluation was also carried out. Results: Suggest that imagery was effective for improving aspects of movement performance, such as coordination and propulsion, Conclusions: The improvement, according to the theory of Berstein dynamic systems, is an indicator of learning and motor control over the back arch. However, the study’s limitations in terms of sample size should be borne in mind.