The Effects of Combining PETTLEP Imagery and Action Observation on Bicep Strength: A Single-Case Design

The PETTLEP model of motor imagery (Holmes & Collins, 2001) has been shown to be effective in enhancing strength performance. With recent literature discussing the shared neural substrates between imagery and action observation, this study investigated whether PETTLEP imagery would improve bicep strength both with and without an additional observational aid. Using a single-case design, four participants completed a baseline phase followed by PETTLEP imagery with and without an observation aid in a counterbalanced manner. Weekly bicep curl 1 repetition maximum (1 R.M.) was used as the performance measure. Results indicated that using an observational aid in conjunction with PETTLEP imagery can aid performance, but not to a greater degree than PETTLEP imagery alone. This indicates that observational aids may not be an essential addition to imagery interventions, but their inclusion is not detrimental. The study highlights further the benefit of using PETTLEP imagery for enhancing strength performance, which should be considered by practitioners delivering resistance training programs. Future research could further explore the role of observation when combined with imagery to assess the effect on strength in an athletic population