Examining the Feasibility of a Short Intervention for Improving Exercise Imagery Ability

Abstract The primary aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of combining layered stimulus response training (LSRT) with one week of imagery rehearsal on exercise imagery ability. Further aims were to investigate pre- to post-intervention changes in exercise related feeling states and interest/enjoyment, and determine if imagery ability at post-intervention was associated with these variables. Forty-five women aged 19 to 50 years (M = 30.53; SD = 10.08) performed LSRT and were randomly assigned to either rehearsal or no rehearsal conditions of an imagery script describing a brisk walk. Both groups significantly improved their ability to image different types of exercise imagery from pre- to post-intervention, but the rehearsal group improved their imagery accuracy significantly more than the control group. Both groups significantly improved on interest/enjoyment, physical exhaustion and positive engagement, but not revitalization or tranquility. For the rehearsal group, post-intervention exercise imagery ability correlated significantly and positively with post-intervention interest/enjoyment, positive engagement, and tranquility. Results indicate that it is feasible to improve exercise imagery ability through a brief imagery intervention and that this increase was associated with better affective responses to exercise.