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. 2024 Apr;68(1):40-48.

Combining motor imagery practice with physical practice optimizes the improvement in peak force control during thoracic spinal manipulation

Constance Dubant  1 , Aurore Meugnot  2   3
Affiliations

Combining motor imagery practice with physical practice optimizes the improvement in peak force control during thoracic spinal manipulation

Constance Dubant et al. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2024 Apr.

Abstract
in English, French

Spinal manipulation learning requires intensive practice, which can cause injuries in students. Motor imagery (MI) paired with physical practice (PP) appears to be a suitable means to reduce the number of physical repetitions without decreasing skill outcomes. This study examines whether a session of MI paired with PP leads to a similar improvement in the ability to precisely produce peak forces during a thoracic manipulation as PP alone. Chiropractic students participated in a thoracic manipulation training program for five weeks. They were randomised in two groups: the MI+PP group performed sessions combining physical and mental repetitions with 1/3 fewer PP sessions, while the PP group performed only PP. Thoracic manipulation performance was assessed in pre and post-tests, consisting of thoracic manipulations at three different strength targets. Absolute error (AE), corresponding to the difference between the force required and the force applied by the student, was recorded for each trial. The main result revealed that AE was significantly lower in post-test than in pre-test for both groups. Despite fewer physical repetitions, the MI+PP participants showed as much improvement as the PP participants. This result supports the use of MI combined with PP to optimise the benefits of physical repetitions on thoracic manipulation learning.

La combinaison de la pratique de l’imagerie motrice avec la pratique physique optimise l’amélioration du contrôle de la force maximale pendant la manipulation vertébrale thoracique.L’apprentissage de la manipulation vertébrale nécessite une pratique intensive qui peut entraîner des blessures chez les étudiants. L’imagerie motrice (IM) associée à la pratique physique (PP) semble être un moyen approprié pour réduire le nombre de répétitions physiques sans diminuer les acquis de compétences. Cette étude examine de quelle manière une séance d’IM combinée à la pratique physique entraîne une amélioration similaire pour doser avec précision leur force lors d’une manipulation thoracique par rapport à la pratique physique seule. Des étudiants en chiropratique ont participé à un programme de formation à la manipulation thoracique pendant cinq semaines. Ils ont été répartis au hasard en deux groupes: le groupe IM + PP a effectué des séances combinant des répétitions physiques et mentales avec 1/3 de séances PP en moins, tandis que le groupe PP n’a effectué que des séances PP. Les résultats des manipulations thoraciques ont été évalués lors de prétests et de post-tests, consistant en des manipulations thoraciques à trois niveaux de force différents. L’erreur absolue (EA), correspondant à la différence entre la force requise et la force appliquée par l’étudiant, a été enregistrée pour chaque essai. Le résultat principal a révélé que l’EA était significativement plus faible dans le post-test que dans le pré-test pour les deux groupes. Malgré un nombre inférieur de répétitions physiques, les participants IM+PP ont montré autant d’amélioration que les participants PP. Ce résultat soutient l’utilisation de l’IM combinée à la PP pour optimiser les avantages des répétitions physiques sur l’apprentissage de la manipulation thoracique.

Keywords: chiropractic students; mental practice; motor imagery; motor skill; spinal manipulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no disclaimers, competing interests, or sources of support or funding to report in the preparation of this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Training session for(A) the PP group and (B) the PP + MI group. TSM = Thoracic Spinal Manipulation. L = Low, M = Medium, H = High.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Illustration of the protocol.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Absolute Error (AE) in pre-test and post-test. Error bars indicate standard deviation. ** = p<0.0001
Figure 4
Figure 4
Absolute Error (AE) as a function of intensity of force required (low, mediu,, high). Error bars indicate standard deviion. * p<0.05
Figure 5
Figure 5
Mean (SD) of Absolute Error (AE) as a function of group (PP, MI+PP), test (pre-test, post-test) and intensity of force required (low, medium, high).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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