How Does Imagery Help In Sport?

Příspěvek pojednává o možnostech využití představivosti (imaginace) ve sportu v rámci zlepšování výkonnosti psychologickými prostředky. Tato mentální technika je často využívána sportovci ke zlepšení jejich sportovního výkonu. Jako intervenční techniku ji využívají pro své svěřence sportovní psychologové a v poslední době i trenéři. Tréninkový plán imaginace v rámci sportovní psychologické přípravy je v zahraničí široce rozpracován. Technikou imaginace se v oblasti psychologie sportu zabývá stále více výzkumníků. Její podstatou je vytváření co nejkvalitnějších a nejživějších představ o úspěšném vykonání toho, co chceme na svém výkonu zlepšit. Příspěvek se zabývá teoretickými aspekty procesu imaginace, jeho charakteristikou, členěním a podrobnými aspekty využití u sportovní populace.This paper deals with the possibilities of using imagery (imagination) in sports to improve performance by psychological means. This mental technique is often used by athletes to improve their sports performance. It is also used as an intervention technique by sports psychologists and more recently coaches for athletes. Abroad, the Training schedule of imagery in sports psychology training is widely developed. The number of researchers dealing with this technique of imagery in sport psychology is rising. The essence is to create a mental image of the highest quality, and a vivid picture of successful execution of what we want to improve in our performance. This paper deals with the theoretical aspects of the imagery, its characteristics, structure and detailed aspects of its use in sports

Prevention of sarcopenia in patients with obesity afterbariatric and metabolic surgery: The effect ofprogrammed training on the muscle tissue andanthropometric functions - A randomized controlledtrial (SarxOb study protocol)

Obesity is a serious metabolic disease that significantly increases cardiovascular risks and other health complications. Sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality in patients suffering from obesity that increases the health risks and is associated with cardiac, respiratory, and other diseases. Bariatric and metabolic surgery (BMS) leads to significant changes in body composition. Our pilot study showed that bariatric patients are at risk of sarcopenia after BMS. This finding resulted in a hypothesis that an exercise plan in the experimental group will lead to postural stabilization and a lower decline in muscle homotopy, further leading to a greater reduction in fat mass and a positive effect of exercise on skeletal muscle volume and strength and endocrine-metabolic function. The aim of the present study is to determine the effect of programmed aerobic and strength training on muscle function, volume, and morphology in patients after BMS. The study is a single-center, randomized clinical trial after sleeve gastrectomy focused on muscle tissue. The experimental group will perform targeted physical activity once a week for 12 months and the training plan will include anaerobic and aerobic components. Magnetic resonance imaging of skeletal muscles will be correlated with the values of densitometry examination and changes in body composition, certain blood parameters of myokines, biomechanical analysis of movement abnormalities, and behavioral and dietary counseling. This study will address the research questions about the effect of programmed training on muscle tissue and muscular functions after BMS.Web of Science23219719

Prevention of sarcopenia in patients with obesity after bariatric and metabolic surgery: The effect of programmed training on the muscle tissue and anthropometric functions – A randomized controlled trial (SarxOb study protocol)

Obesity is a serious metabolic disease that significantly increases cardiovascular risks and other health complications. Sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality in patients suffering from obesity that increases the health risks and is associated with cardiac, respiratory and other diseases.  Bariatric and metabolic surgery (BMS) leads to significant changes in body composition. Our pilot study showed that bariatric patients are at risk of sarcopenia after BMS. This finding resulted in a hypothesis that an exercise plan in the experimental group will lead to postural stabilization and a lower decline in muscle homotopy, further leading to a greater reduction in fat mass and a positive effect of exercise on skeletal muscle volume and strength and endocrine-metabolic function. The aim of the present study is to determine the effect of programmed aerobic and strength training on muscle function, volume, and morphology in patients after BMS. The study is a single-center, randomized clinical trial after sleeve gastrectomy focused on muscle tissue. The experimental group will perform targeted physical activity once a week for 12 months and the training plan will include anaerobic and aerobic components. Magnetic resonance imaging of skeletal muscles will be correlated with the values of densitometry examination and changes in body composition, certain blood parameters of myokines, biomechanical analysis of movement abnormalities, and behavioral and dietary counseling. This study will address the research questions about the effect of programmed training on muscle tissue and muscular functions after BMS

Restricted Environmental Stimulation And Psychopathology

The aim of the study was to assess the possible influence of the overall context of a modified version of Chamber REST (Darkness Therapy - "DT") on the psychopathological induction. The research sample consisted of 37 clients of the Beskydy Rehabilitation Centre in Celadna who willingly underwent a week of restricted environmental stimulation - DT (a version of Chamber REST), during 2012 - 2013. The age ranged between 25 and 84 (M = 45.86; SD = 13.16). The sample consisted of 17 women and 20 men. The participants were selected by purposive voluntary sampling. A week before the DT stay, each of the subjects filled in the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90). Three weeks after they completed the procedure they received SCL-90 again. The data obtained were evaluated by the SPSS software. When comparing the values measured before and after the stay in the researched modification of Chamber REST (Dark Therapy) environment, we found a significant difference on all scales and on a total score, too.Experimental study on cognitive and psychophysiological processes under Chamber REST conditions II [SGS10/FF/2016-2017

What are the effects of chamber REST on the scientific understanding of reality? An exploratory study

In this paper we present an exploratory study on the understanding of reality among scientists. The nature of reality has been a conundrum for generations of theologians, philosophers, and scientists as well as the lay public. It also appears as a scientific problem in various disciplines, from physics to psychiatry and neuroscience. For the purpose of our study, we employed Chamber REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation), which has been known to produce substantial perceptual effects such as visual or auditory pseudo-hallucinations. We hypothesized that such experiences could alter basic underlying metaphysical beliefs which our subject-scientists hold about reality. We conclude that the technique showed the potential to induce such changes, but the outcome is also probably dependent on their pre-existing views gained through previous experi-ences, such as for example altered states of consciousness. Also, the effects of Chamber REST seem to be in this respect comparable to psychedelic sessions

Differences In Self-concept in Children and Adolescents in the Czech Republic Based On Their Age and Sex

Problem: The article presents a study of the differences in self - concept of children and adolescents based on their sex and age. Self - concept is an integral part of each personality. The level of self - concept in pupils may reflect significantly on their overall life satisfaction as wel l as influence their subjective success (individually experienced) and their objective success (evaluated externally). Methods: The diagnostic tool used was the Czech adaptation of Children's and adolescents self - concept scale PHCSCS - 2 (Obereignerů et al., 2015). The original American version of Piers - Harris Children Self - concept Scale 2 (PHCSCS - 2) is a 60 - item self - report scale which comprises 7 areas of self - assessment. It includes the subscale of overall self - concept: Total Score (TOT) - which represents the level of the respondent’s overall self - concept and six subscales evaluating specific areas of self - concept: Behavioural Adjustment (BEH), Intellectual and School Status (INT), Physical Appearance and Attributes (PHY), Freedom from Anxiety (FRE), Popularity (POP), Happiness and Satisfaction (HAP). The Czech standardization which took place in recent years, respected all requirements for the conversion of a foreign diagnostic tool. The research group included 4901 pupils and students at primary and secondary schools in the Czech Republic aged 9 - 21. The group was divided into twelve groups based on sex and age - group 1 (9 - 10 years), group 2 (11 - 12 years), group 3 (13 - 14 years), group 4 (15 - 16 years), group 5 (17 - 18 years), group 6 (19 - 21 years), equivalently for boys/men and girls/women. The study presents the differences of seven self - concept dimensions, as mentioned above (the Total Score and six subscales) in Self - Concept in Children and Adolescent based on sex. Most attention is paid to the Total Score (TOT) as a most reliable indicator. The study also reveals development curves of all six subscales of girls/women and boys/men based on age. Results: Statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) in the results between sexes in Total Score (TOT) and four of self - concept dimensions - Behavioural Adjustment (BEH), Intellectual and School Status (INT), Freedom from Anxiety (FRE), Happiness and Satisfaction (HAP) - in the research group of 4901 Czech pupils and students were demonstrated by T-test. Statistically significant differences in the results between sexes in Total Score (TOT) in the age categories of 15 - 16 years and 17 - 18 years (p < 0.001) and significant difference in the results between sexes in the overall self - concept in the age category of 9 - 10 years (p < 0.05) in the research group of 4901 Czech pupils and students were also demonstrated by T-test. Discussion: Certain older studies quoted in the discussion do not show (contrary to our findings) any difference in the self - concept in respondents based on sex, other studies evaluate the differences as mild while other show differences that are not considered as clinically significant. As PHCSCS-2 is a newly standardized and prospectively applicable psychodiagnostic tool, further analyses will follow as well as outputs concerning the children and adolescent population in the Czech Republic and elsewhere. Practical application arising from the findings, however, consists in the necessity to approach children and adolescents in an individual manner, taking into account their age and sex (avoiding "measuring all children by the same yardstick"). In view of the significance of self - assessment for personality, in practice we consider as crucial to take into account in a more sensitive manner the things to which the children and adolescents are "more sensitive and vulnerable" as well as their sex. Conclusion: This article provides the first and partial results within an extensive research project of the team of the authors

Assessing attitudes indirectly through conceptual metaphors of size and distance in an interactive software

Traditional methods of measuring attitudes usually consist of expressing the degree of agreement with a series of statements. In this paper, we test a new method to express attitudes through interactive metaphors. Primary school students set the distance and physical size of objects (visual representations of school subjects) using a digital application. During this task, they communicated their understanding of the distance and physical size of the object. Distance was most often interpreted by respondents as a metaphorical expression of liking, with objects closer perceived as more likeable. Size was most often interpreted as a metaphor expressing importance and usefulness, with positively rated objects being expressed as larger. Additionally, we investigated whether increasing the size and decreasing the distance are related to a more positive verbal evaluation of the object. The results supported our predictions, and they are also consistent with previous research findings on metaphor mapping, primary metaphors, and the relationship between physical size and importance.Web of Science38434532