Danny O’Dell’s

Strength and power knowledge

01 February 06

ISSN: 1550-2643: Library Of Congress, Washington D.C.,

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Topic discussed:

 

Engram development

 

During the early stages of learning a new skill the voluntary nervous system has to assist in integrating all of the kinaesthetic sensory input coming into the body. The eventual goal is an automatic response to these monitoring outposts. This is an engram.

 

Are you are wondering why this is important information to know and apply? Well the short story is this: unskilled athletes, as can be expected, are inefficient in their motor patterns. Not only do they have disrupted motor patterns, but also the intensities and timing of the movements are also negatively altered. This leads inevitably to recruitment of muscles that actually serve no useful purpose in control or completion of the movement. The result is a loss of energy and effectiveness.

 

Recruiting muscles out of sequence or those not necessary and are supposed to be in a relaxed state or performing another task at the same time maybe the cause of injury. Thus learning the skill the right way, in the correct sequence encourages efficiency and helps in the prevention of an injury.

 

Mel Siff referred to this as developing a skill in such a way that a given movement is the most efficient and intensive at recruiting muscle fibers. All of the contributing factors are lined up in the right exact sequence ‘to produce the movement pattern accurately and powerfully.’ Since all movement activity is controlled by the nervous and neuromuscular systems applying this knowledge to your training is fundamental to building strength.

 

As the saying goes ‘lift smart’ not just hard.

 

Mental training

 

Brief history

Mental imagery as used by many athletes of the world, works. This skill often referred to as visualization, mental practice, and mental rehearsal skill development.

 

The premise asserts there is a connection between the mind and the subsequent neuromuscular reaction. Taking the thought further this process happens without conscious awareness between the conception and the execution of the act. This concept of the mind muscle connection is evident in the Electromyographic (EMG) analysis of muscle engagement and movement.

 

Four groups of athletes were studied. The first did the task, the second group imagined the task through to completion, the third performed eye movements only while the last passive control subjects received no training at all. After the tests of speed accuracy were completed it was determined that mental training promotes the skill of the visualized physical movement.

 

The research has demonstrated and produced data that shows the brain can initiate motor movement without actually moving muscles. So clearly the link is there. But just what is mental imagery and how can it help you become stronger?

 

Simply put it means using your imagination to create powerfully realistic perfect scenarios of future athletic events as a rehearsal for the actual competition. It can also be used to recreate past successful activities to either promote a higher level of emotional engagement or to lessen prestart energy nervousness. Imagery provides the athlete with extra intensely focused training time-in their head.

 

Your athletes, or maybe even you, probably already use mental imagery. It comes naturally. What doesn’t come naturally is doing it in a systematically purposeful fashion.

 

That’s all for this time. I hope your training is going well and wish you happiness in your life.

Stay strong, and remain passionately committed to your hearts chosen path.

By Danny M. O’Dell, MA. CSCS*D

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