Effects of Imagery and Breathing Exercises on Swimmers' Performance, Mental Toughness, and Heart-Mind Coherence

April 8, 2025 updated by: Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University

The Effect of 10-Week Imagery and Breathing Exercises on 200-Meter Swimming Performance, Mental Toughness, and Heart-Mind Coherence in Swimmers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of a 10-week imagery and breathing exercise intervention on 200-meter freestyle swimming performance, mental toughness, and heart-mind coherence in swimmers. Nineteen licensed swimmers aged 13-18 years were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=9) receiving imagery and breathing exercises or a control group (n=10) receiving only standard physical training. Outcomes were measured using the 200-meter freestyle swimming time, the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ), and heart-mind coherence via the Inner Balance HeartMath device. The intervention significantly improved mental toughness and swimming performance in the experimental group compared to the control group, with a trend toward improved heart-mind coherence.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The study was conducted at the facilities of Pamukkale Üniversitesi Mensupları Spor Kulübü Yüzme Takımı in Denizli, Türkiye. Participants underwent a pre-test/post-test design with the following measures: 200-meter freestyle swimming performance, mental toughness (assessed via the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire), and heart-mind coherence (measured using the Inner Balance HeartMath device for real-time biofeedback of heart rate variability [HRV]). The experimental group participated in a 10-week intervention involving daily imagery and breathing exercises performed before bedtime, following a structured protocol (4-second inhale through the nose, 4-second exhale through the mouth, while imagining a 200-meter swim with detailed visualization). The intervention included a 6-day training period on techniques, followed by 10 weeks of daily practice, with reminders and feedback provided via a WhatsApp group. The control group continued standard physical training without additional mental training. Data were analyzed using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA, with post-hoc Bonferroni tests, and a significance level of p<0.05.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

19

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey
      • Ankara, Turkey
        • Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 13-18 years.
  • Licensed and actively engaged in competitive swimming.
  • No serious injuries in the past 6 months.
  • Parental consent obtained for participants under 18 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of heart disease or respiratory system disorders.
  • Psychiatric diagnosis or ongoing psychological treatment.
  • Serious injury or surgery within the past 6 months.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Imagery and Breathing Exercises
Participants received a 10-week intervention of imagery and breathing exercises in addition to standard physical training.
Behavioral: Imagery and Breathing Exercises
Participants performed daily imagery and breathing exercises before bedtime for 10 weeks. The protocol involved a 4-second inhale through the nose and a 4-second exhale through the mouth while visualizing a 200-meter freestyle swim with detailed attention to technique and performance. A 6-day training period was provided to teach the techniques, and participants received daily reminders and feedback via a WhatsApp group.
No Intervention: Standard of care
Participants received only standard physical training without additional mental training.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
200-Meter Freestyle Swimming Performance
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-test) and 10 weeks (post-test).
time to complete a 200-meter freestyle swim, measured in seconds.
Baseline (pre-test) and 10 weeks (post-test).
Mental Toughness
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-test) and 10 weeks (post-test).
Assessed using the Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ), with scores indicating levels of mental toughness. The Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ) is a 14-item scale measuring mental toughness across the subdomains of confidence, constancy, and control, with scores ranging from 14 to 56. Higher scores indicate greater mental toughness, reflecting a more positive psychological profile in athletes.
Baseline (pre-test) and 10 weeks (post-test).
Heart-Mind Coherence
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-test) and 10 weeks (post-test).
Measured using the Inner Balance HeartMath device to assess heart rate variability (HRV)
Baseline (pre-test) and 10 weeks (post-test).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Maximum Coherence Values
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-test) and 10 weeks (post-test).
Maximum coherence levels achieved during measurement sessions, assessed via the Inner Balance HeartMath device.
Baseline (pre-test) and 10 weeks (post-test).
Balance Performance
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-test) and 10 weeks (post-test).
Assessed as part of the study hypothesis, though specific measurement tools are not detailed in the manuscript.
Baseline (pre-test) and 10 weeks (post-test).

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University

Collaborators

Pamukkale University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 20, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 20, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

March 17, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 16, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 8, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

April 10, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 10, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 8, 2025

Last Verified

March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • E-60116787-020-666811

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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