![]() This can be an obvious problem when an individual adopts a gait that is not natural for them. Consider that just training or racing with a group of others is associated with the awareness of their stride rates and lengths, resulting in some of the group mimicking each other’s gaits. While mental imagery is beneficial in sports, the opposite notion of an adverse response can happen just as easily. (This kind of rehab imagery also can be used clinically such as in a Parkinson patient with a significantly impaired gait, who can suddenly walk much better when while watching an unimpaired companion.) But just because we want to race at a certain speedy pace, we must be at least close to that ability in order to succeed. Running, like walking, swimming and all natural sports activities, requires a balance of complex combinations of many brain areas to sense and send messages to muscles and other structures throughout the body to create the most effective gait - one that functions within the abilities of the individual. For more information listen to what Alisha and Pete have to say in their videos below. Interested in speaking directly with Phil Maffetone? Come and join us in our first online interactive webinar. Do you really believe a magazine article that claims you can run your best marathon with these three simple steps, or some such headline on the cover that attracts gullible and wannabe athletes? The rise of illusion-based injuries may be a powerful social phenomenon, driven by the no-pain, no-gain mentality. However, when used appropriately, mental imagery can help many people perform better. It also often triggered couch potatoes to take up the sport, and too often do too much too soon.Īn illusion can be a delusion, a self-deception or fantasy. Watching the strides of great marathoners for a couple of hours or so surely ignited the viewer’s brains. It seemed like an illusion to me: There were more injured runners coming into my clinic in the periods following TV broadcasts of pro athletes such as the New York City and Boston marathons, and other prime-time events. Sure, this seems like an extreme example, but during my years of working one-on-one with athletes, seeing these kinds of injuries often enough was real - especially when they were more prevalent following televised marathons and other major sporting events. If we are under the illusion we can run a world record marathon next week with little training, that power can be used to harm us. Overthinking anything can hurt an otherwise healthy process. ![]() However, it could also cause damage if this process is misused. This mental imagery could have great value for sports, as well as with patients undergoing therapy and rehabilitation, and others. If imagination is more important than knowledge, as Albert Einstein said, then it can also be more powerful. As babies, we imagine moving like mom, and, eventually, the mind mirrors it. It helps us learn to walk, and is a reason why we often stand, walk or move very similarly to the way our parents do. We do it from the earliest age - the brain mimics others. This mechanism is hard-wired in the human nervous system. Rather, the brain’s motor cortex initiates the connections with those very same muscles used in the actions we see - all while we sit on the couch just watching and wishing. This happens not just through the imagination or dreams of being world class. Our eyes transmit these images to the brain, where something amazing happens: We actually begin to mimic those same actions. We see this elegant imagery at the pinnacle of every sport. The beautiful stride of a world class marathoner is something to behold. ![]() From beginners to pro athletes, m ental imagery can be useful - or dangerous if you’re unrealistic
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