Effects of Ten Biofeedback Sessions on Athletes’ Physiological, Psychological, and Cognitive Functioning: A Randomized Controlled Trial with International Tennis Players

Makaracı M., Makaracı Y., ZORBA E., Lautenbach F.

Perceptual and Motor Skills, 2024 (SSCI) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1177/00315125241274834
  • Dergi Adı: Perceptual and Motor Skills
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Periodicals Index Online, AgeLine, CINAHL, Communication Abstracts, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Psycinfo, SportDiscus
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: biofeedback training, cognition, elite athletes, galvanic skin response, heart rate variability, skin temperature
  • Gazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Our aim in this study was to test the effect of 10 sessions of biofeedback (BFB) on physiological, psychological, and cognitive functioning of international tennis players. In this randomized controlled trial, we recruited 16 international tennis players (11 male, 5 female; Mage = 17.31, SD = 0.87 years), who were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (IG; n = 8) or a control group (CG; n = 8). Those in the IG received 10 multimodal BFB sessions over four weeks, while those in the CG received no intervention. We assessed physiological, psychological, and cognitive parameters before and after the intervention and found a positive effect for skin temperature, state anxiety, and cognitive performance in the IG versus the CG. We provide preliminary data that 10 sessions of multimodal BFB improved cognitive functions and reduced anxiety symptoms in international tennis players. Future investigators should consider increasing sample size, incorporating an active CG, and studying these effects across diverse athletic disciplines.