PETTLEP Imagery is effective in Table Tennis Forehand Learning of Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Motor imagery is widely used in sports skill instruction and has recently gained attention as a compensation way in the form of motor performance training for Parkinson and brain stroke patients. However, so far, a novel way of imagery called PETTLEP has not been investigated in multiple sclerosis patients. PETTLEP imagery emphasizes on seven effective components in imagery such as physics, environment, task, timing, learning, emotion and Perspective.Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of PETTLEP and physical training on the performance and learning of tennis forehand in multiple sclerosis patients.

The present study was semi-experimental, including intra / inter group design. For this purpose, 33 patients with MS (37.5±3.02) were participated as a statistical sample in this study, who purposively selected among referrals to MS Society of Kermanshah city. First, Kinestatic and visual imagery questionnaire (Malouin et al, 2007) was used to examine the imagery ability of MS patients and then Edinburgh Handedness Inventory Questionnaire was used to confirm the right handedness of the subjects, then a table tennis forehand pre-test was taken from the subjects and they were divided to three groups of PETTLEP imagery, physical training and Combined group) PETTLEP imagery & physical training) Based on pre-test scores with Peer-matching method.The PETTLEP imagery group intervention included Mental imagery practice of Table Tennis Forehand using the PETTLEP method during 30 minutes.and the physical training group performed practically Table Tennis Forehand skill during t the same time in each session. Combined group Were placed under the PETTLEP imagery (15 minutes) and physical training (15 minutes). All groups 3 Sessions each week (for 6 weeks) performed related intervention. After one week from intervention, retention (Similar to pre-test) and transfer (Parallel forehand; Change direction of forehand) tests were performed. The research tool included the accuracy test of the Table Tennis Forehand Which was designed by lio and Master.The repeated measure ANOVA test was used to analyze the acquisition sessions. Observed significant effects were further assessed with LSD post-hoc tests. As well as, One-way was used to compare the groups in pre-test, post-test, retention and transfer tests. These analyses were based on Shapiro–Wilk's of normality and homogeneity of variance tests for all analyses, the level of significance was set at p < .05.

For MS patients, repeated measures ANOVA in acquisition sessions showed effects of groups (p=0.003, η2=0.324), sessions (p<0.001, η2 =0.0865), and interaction (p<0.001, η2=0.208) was Significant. Post hoc test showed that that tennis forehand accuracy of the all groups improved during acquisition sessions(p<0.05), and the tennis forehand accuracy of the PETTLEP imagery group was Significantly less than the physical training (P =0.014), and Combined groups (P =0.001). Whereas, there was no significant difference between the physical training and Combined groups (P >0.05). In addition, Results of one-way ANOVA in retention test showed that the tennis forehand accuracy of the Combined group was better than the physical training (P =0.001), and PETTLEP imagery groups (p<0.001). As well as the physical training group was better than the PETTLEP imagery groups (P =0.001). results of transfer test showed that the forehand accuracy of the PETTLEP imagery group was Significantly less than the physical training (p<0.001), and Combined groups (P =0.002), Whereas, there was no significant difference between the physical training and Combined groups (P =0.125).

Based on the findings, it seems the combination of physical exercises with PETTLEP imagery can be more effective as a treatment for multiple sclerosis patients, But Only PETTLEP imagery can not be a Suitable Alternativefor physical training alone