ArticleFrontiers in physiology2025
Motor imagery enhances core training effects on lumbar proprioception in elite swimmers: a randomized controlled trial.
Article in Frontiers in physiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06747702 (Effect of Integrated Workouts on Injury Prevention in Overhead Athletes), which is not on this map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Effect of Integrated Workouts on Injury Prevention in Overhead Athletes
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Proprioception Training and Surrogate Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Definitions, Measures, and Effectiveness Claims.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2026Pooled it
- Current status and challenges in lumbar proprioception measurement: a narrative review.Frontiers in neurologyReview
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Lumbar proprioception is essential for executing effective movements during the undulatory underwater swimming (UUS) technique. Core exercises are commonly used to strengthen the musculature involved in UUS, and variations in sensory input and attentional focus may modulate neuromuscular responses, influencing training outcomes. This study investigated the impact of repeated maximal lumbar movements performed with closed eyes and motor imagery on lumbar proprioception in elite swimmers, compared to performing the same exercises with proper technique and controlled breathing alone.
methodsA total of 57 elite swimmers (34 males, 20.2 ± 4.2 years; 23 females, 20.7 ± 3.3 years) volunteered and completed the study. Participants were randomly assigned to two experimental groups (EG1 and EG2) and one control group (CG). All groups followed the same swimming and physical training program, with EG1 and EG2 completing additional lumbar flexion-extension exercises. Both EG1 and EG2 performed three sets of 10 repetitions at a controlled breathing pace, 6 days per week for 11 weeks. EG1 completed the exercises with eyes closed and motor imagery; EG2 performed the same exercises focusing only on technique. Lumbar joint position sense in the sagittal plane was assessed using an electrogoniometer while seated on a Swiss ball.
resultsSignificant group differences were found for relative repositioning error (REr) (F = 6.75, p = 0.012) and absolute error (ABSEr) (F = 7.34, p = 0.009). EG1 showed large positive effect sizes (REr d = 0.91; ABSEr d = 1.24), EG2 showed negative effects (REr d = -0.56; ABSEr d = -1.17), and CG had no meaningful changes.
conclusionMotor imagery enhances proprioceptive accuracy beyond physical training alone.
trial registrationNCT06747702.
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