Motor Imagery and Muscle Architecture

The Effects of Motor Imagery and Action Observation-Based Plyometric Training on Vastus Lateralis and Biceps Femoris Muscle Architectures of Adolescent Football Players

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of plyometric training on biceps femoris longus (BFl) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle architecture in healthy football players. Individuals will be randomly placed into training and control groups. Measurements of muscle architecture will be taken bilaterally from BFl and VL muscles by means of an ultrasound device. Functional performance will be evaluated with the single leg jump test. Following the initial evaluations, individuals in the training group will receive plyometric training. Evaluations of muscle architecture and functional performance will be taken again from the individuals in the training and control groups at the end of the 4th and 8th weeks. The received ultrasound images will be calculated through the MicroDicom software. In-group and between-group comparisons will be analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program and appropriate tests.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Muscle Architecture
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Plyometric Exercise; Other: Football Training

Detailed Description

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of plyometric training on biceps femoris longus (BFl) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle architecture (fiber length, penation angle and muscle thickness) in healthy football players. Individuals will be randomly placed into two different groups, the training group and the control group. Imagery ability, self-efficacy and motivation will be evaluated with various questionnaires and scales in order to compare the homogeneity of the groups. Measurements of muscle architecture will be taken bilaterally from BFl and VL muscles by means of an ultrasound device. Functional performance will be evaluated with the single leg jump test. Following the initial evaluations, individuals in the training group will receive plyometric training consisting of ten different exercises for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week. In this training, individuals will not participate in a real plyometric training. Volunteers will watch videos to be prepared (action observation) and imagine them performing those exercises (motor imagery). All trainings will be given on the basis of telerehabilitation via distance education tools. Cognitive fatigue at the beginning and end of the session; at the end of each session, the technical quality and efficiency of the training will be evaluated. Evaluations of muscle architecture and functional performance will be taken again from the individuals in the control and training groups at the end of the 4th and 8th weeks. The received ultrasound images will be calculated through the MicroDicom software. In-group and between-group comparisons will be analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program and appropriate tests.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Murat Emirzeoğlu, MSc; Phone Number: +90 312 305 15 77; Email: muratemirzeoglu@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Trabzon, Turkey
    • Recruiting
    • Of Football Club
    • Contact: Murat Emirzeoğlu; Phone Number: +90 462377 8842; Email: muratemirzeoglu@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 12 years to 19 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Be in the 12-19 age range
• Being actively playing football as licensed

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those who have undergone lower extremity surgery
• Those with a history of second and third degree strain type injuries in the hamstring and quadriceps muscle groups
• Those with a history of injury to the lower extremity in the last two years
• Those with a history of congenital, neurological, orthopedic, rheumatological and cardiopulmonary pathologies or anomalies,
• Those with a diagnosis of systemic disease (diabetes, blood pressure, thyroid diseases, etc.)
• Those with acute infection and pain
• Those with a diagnosis of joint instability
• Those with a body mass index of 30 and above
• Those who received energy supplements or ergogenic aids during the study or during the 6-month period before the study
• Those who do not follow the research protocol

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Plyometric Training Group; Individuals in the plyometric training group will receive plyometric training. In this training, individuals will not participate in a real plyometric training. Volunteers will watch videos to be prepared (action observation) and imagine them performing those exercises (motor imagery). All trainings will be given on the basis of telerehabilitation via distance education tools.	Other: Plyometric Exercise; Plyometric training consisting of ten different exercises [vertical unilateral and bilateral counter movement jump, horizontal unilateral and bilateral counter movement jump, drop jump (30 cm), squat jump, step-hop (20 cm), 180 degree rotation in transverse plane, frontal plane hurdle jump (20 cm) and sagittal plane hurdle jump (20 cm)] for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week. Individuals will not participate in a real plyometric training. Volunteers will watch videos to be prepared (action observation) and imagine them performing those exercises (motor imagery)
Active Comparator: Control Group; Athletes in this group will continue their routine training programs like the athletes in the plyometric training group.	Other: Football Training; Routine football trainings

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Muscle Architecture Change-1	Fiber length of the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris longus muscles	Before, at the end of the fourth week and the eighth week
Muscle Architecture Change-2	Pennation angle of the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris longus muscles	Before, at the end of the fourth week and the eighth week
Muscle Architecture Change-3	Muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris longus muscles	Before, at the end of the fourth week and the eighth week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Functional Performance Change-1	Single leg jump distance	Before, at the end of the fourth week and the eighth week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hacettepe University
• Investigators: Study Director: Ozlem Ulger, Hacettepe University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 21, 2022
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): March 15, 2023
• Study Completion (Anticipated): June 15, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 23, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 23, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): September 28, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 29, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 22, 2022
• Last Verified: November 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: function; muscle architecture; action observation; motor imagery; biceps femoris; vastus lateralis; plyometric training; fiber length; pennation angle; muscle thickness; single leg jump
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2022-11475

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Undecided

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No