A Pre-Performance Routine to Optimize Competition Performance in Artistic Gymnastics
in The Sport PsychologistClick name to view affiliation
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Researchers suggests that a pre-performance routine (PPR) can improve performance in competitions. The effectiveness of left-hand contractions, a PPR to trigger facilitative cortical processes for skilled motor performance, was tested in two studies. In Study 1, gymnasts competing at the German university championships in artistic gymnastics performed their routines with or without the PPR. In Study 2, gymnasts performed the balance beam exercise either using the PPR or the control task (right-hand contractions) under simulated competition pressure. The qualification performance (Study 1) and the pressure-free performance (Study 2) were controlled. In both studies, participants in the PPR group performed better than control participants. The results indicate that left-hand contractions may be a useful PPR in the field.
Beckmann is with the Dept. of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, München, Germany. Gröpel is now with the Department of Applied Psychology: Work, Education, Economy, University of Vienna, Austria.
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