BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL ANALYSIS OF IMAGERY IN ELITE ATHLETES.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between elite athletes' imagery abilities and their body awareness, plank stance duration, psychological and social skills. Material and Methods: The study included 53 healthy elite athletes (female:32, male:21). The imagery abilities of the athletes were evaluated using the Movement Imagery Questionnaire-3. A Body Awareness Questionnaire was used for body awareness assessment. Plank stance duration, psychological and social skill levels were evaluated using Sport Specific Core Muscle Strength and Stability Plank Test, Athletic Psychological Skills Inventory and Social Skills Inventory, respectively. Results: External and kinesthetic imagery was found to correlate with body awareness (r=0.33, p=0.02; r=0.39, p<0.01). There was a relationship between these imagery abilities and the prediction of body responses (r=0.31, p=0.03; r=0.38, p<0.01) and sleep-wake cycle (r=0.38, p<0.01; r=0.37, p<0.01) subdimensions of body awareness. Kinesthetic imagery also was associated with changes in paying attention to changes and reactions in the body process (r=0.30, p=0.03) sub-dimension. There was no relationship between imagery and other parameters (p>0.05). Conclusion: The external and kinesthetic imagery ability of elite athletes is related to the body awareness level. It should be considered in terms of holistic approach in the performance and rehabilitation processes of the athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]