Understanding the prevalence of mental imagery, music, and their combined use among athletes and coaches.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Both mental imagery and music have significant impacts on motor skill acquisition and improvement, as well as on the regulation of psychological factors crucial for athletic success. However, research on the prevalence of these mental practice strategies across sporting domains, as well as their combined application (hereafter reported as MIMUS), is limited. It therefore remains unclear which strategies athletes and coaches adopt in an athlete's mental preparation routine. Accordingly, the present study investigated the prevalence of music, mental imagery, and their combined use among coaches and athletes across different performance levels and sports settings. The content and motivations underlying the use of these strategies were also explored.

Design and methods<

SUBMITTER: Castellar F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12554704 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature