ECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH17
INTRODUCTION Naturally occurring muscle pain (NOMP) is an inherent feature of exercise. As NOMP increases, more physical and cognitive effort is required to sustain task performance, often causing disengagement as demands rise. Consequently, strategies that reduce NOMP may benefit both health (e.g., exercise adherence) and performance outcomes. Virtual reality (VR) is a potential non-invasive method to induce hypoalgesia by diverting attention away from nociceptive processing to lower pain intensity, reduce effort demands, and enhance performance. However, VR-induced pain reductions have only been shown with experimentally induced pain (e.g., thermal), meaning its effect on NOMP unclear. This two-part study examined whether VR could reduce NOMP intensity and improve motor performance during prescribed workload and self-regulated tasks. We hypothesised that VR would reduce NOMP and enhance task performance compared with sham and control conditions METHODS In Part 1, 12 participants (50% each sex) completed a stepped incremental cycling task to exhaustion. In Part 2, 24 participants (50% each sex) performed an intermittent isometric handgrip task at fixed light (13/100) or hard (50/100) perceived effort intensity. In both parts, tasks were completed under three conditions: immersive VR with nature scenes, a two-dimensional sham display of the same scenes, and a control condition with no intervention. Condition order was randomised per visit. In Part 1, time to pain onset, NOMP intensity, perceived effort, and time to task exhaustion were assessed. In Part 2, NOMP was rated every 30s and force production (integral) was continuously recorded. Data were analysed using repeated measures ANOVAs, focusing on main condition effects and intensity × condition interactions. Linear regressions examined the relationship between NOMP and force production while controlling for perceived effort intensity and fatigue. RESULTS In Part 1, time to pain onset was similar across conditions (p =.159, ηp2 =.154), but NOMP intensity was lower in the VR condition at 25% iso-time of the task (p =.023, ηp2 =.291). Perceived effort and time to exhaustion did not differ between conditions (all p >.153, ηp2 <.030). In Part 2, NOMP ratings and force production were similar across conditions (all p >.325, ηp2 <.009). Linear regression analyses indicated similar force reductions as NOMP increased across conditions and indexes of fatigue. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to our hypotheses, immersive VR did not reduce NOMP or enhance task performance during prescribed workload or self-regulated exercise. Although there were slight indications that VR may reduce low-intensity pain, these effects did not translate to sustained reductions in pain during self-regulated tasks or improvements in motor performance. From a practical perspective, VR may serve as a supportive or motivational tool, but its utility as a standalone intervention to reduce NOMP and improve physical performance appears limited
Read CV Callum O`MalleyECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH17
Introduction/Objective: Mental training strategies such as music listening and mental imagery, as well as their combination, are commonly used to support motor skill execution in sport. However, their effectiveness may depend on individual characteristics, including physical fitness and imagery ability [1]. This study examined whether individual differences moderate the effects of imagery, music, and their combination (MIMUS) on motor execution variability. Methods: Eighty novices were randomly allocated to one of four conditions: imagery-only, music-only, MIMUS, or control. Participants were trained to perform a precision throwing movement simulating a pétanque shooting technique [2], executing it across four practice blocks, with 5-minute breaks between blocks filled with content-related assigned conditions. In addition, participants completed questionnaires assessing their physical activity levels (IPAQ-long form [3]) and mental imagery abilities (MIQ-3: internal, external, and kinaesthetic [4]) prior to practice. The study comprised acquisition and retention sessions. Bayesian mixed-effects models examined motor execution accuracy, with individual characteristics – fitness levels and imagery abilities - included as interaction terms with condition. Results: All groups improved motor execution accuracy by the end of the retention session (all Odds > 19*), with improvements emerging earlier and more pronounced in the experimental conditions compared with control, notably in the imagery condition (all Odds > 999*). Meaningful motor skill performance improvements were observed across individuals with both low and high fitness levels and imagery ability scores (internal and external perspectives), irrespective of assigned condition (all Odds > 19*). In addition, kinaesthetic imagery ability further enhanced responsiveness to imagery-based strategies, as participants assigned to imagery and MIMUS conditions demonstrated greater performance gains than controls with increasing kinaesthetic imagery scores (Imagery: Odds = 61.2*; MIMUS: Odds = 38.8*). Conclusions: Mental imagery, music, and MIMUS support early motor skill acquisition across individuals with varying fitness levels and imagery abilities. Imagery-based interventions appear particularly beneficial for individuals with stronger kinaesthetic imagery skills. These findings suggest that mental practice interventions are versatile and may be broadly applicable across individuals in sport contexts. [1] Mandolesi, L. et al., 2023 (DOI:10.1007/s00426-023-01876-y) [2] Nurhasan, M. A. et al., 2023 (DOI: 10.47197/retos.v52.97143) [3] Craig, C. L et al., 2003 (DOI:10.1249/01.MSS.0000078924.61453.FB) [4] Williams, S. E. et al., 2011 (DOI: 10.1123/jsep.33.3.416)
Read CV Fernando CastellarECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH17
INTRODUCTION University students who are simultaneously engaged in elite sports programs are identified as dual career (DC) students (1). DC entails complex resource management as peak athletic career often coincides with the most intense period of the academic years, generating a higher systemic load (i.e., sum of hours spent studying and training). Despite the "zero-sum game" theory (2), which suggests that athletic commitments hinder academic potential, academic proficiency of DC athletes may match or even outperform their non-athlete peers. This study aimed to investigate whether the efficiency paradox occurred in DC students. We hypothesized that DC students would have an equal or even higher Academic Return On Investment (ROI) for a given perception of cognitive effort. METHODS Eleven Dual Career powerlifters (DC group) and nine sedentary students (C group) underwent a 10-week monitoring period covering the entire academic semester. Cognitive effort was assessed in both groups using the Paas Mental Effort Rating Scale (PMERS) (3), while Training Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) was monitored using the CR10 Borg scale (4). RPE was exclusively collected in the DC group. Academic ROI was computed as the number of exams passed per 100 h of study, academic efficiency was calculated as ROI/(study duration x PMERS). RESULTS In the DC group a repeated measure positive correlation between weekly PMERS and weekly Training RPE was found (r = 0.29, 95% CI [0.063, 0.48], p = 0.013,). Academic efficiency was numerically higher in the DC group (DC:0.49 ± 0.61vs C:0.14 ± 0.25), but it did not reach statistical significance (p=0.06, Cliff’s δ = 0.52). Consistently, academic ROI was numerically higher in the DC group (DC: 5.4 ± 3.9 vs C: 2.3 ± 2.8) but not significant (p=0.12, Cliff’s δ = 0.41). Large effect sizes suggest that such study should be replicated with a larger sample. CONCLUSION This preliminary evaluation showed that cognitive and training perceptions of effort may be related, and that the efficiency paradox in DC students is likely to occur as the DC group had a trend towards a higher academic efficiency than the C group. Yet results were not significant, most likely because of an insufficient sample size. A larger study accounting for an appropriate statistical power analysis is required to conclusively accept or reject the efficiency paradox hypothesis. REFERENCES 1 Stambulova N, et al. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2024;71:102572. 2 Maloney MT, McCormick RE. J Hum Resour. 1993;28(3):555. 3 Paas FGWC. J Educ Psychol. 1992;84(4):429–34. 4 Foster C, et al. J Strength Cond Res. 2001;15(1):109–15.
Read CV Simone MontenegroECSS Paris 2023: OP-SH17