Differential Biofeedback Intervention in Moderating Inhibited Performance in Soccer

Abstract

Performance excellence in soccer crucially depends on mental toughnessor more specifically the aspect of emotional flexibility and hardinessof the player. Since indices of projective evaluations can reveal hiddenemotional crises and internal conflicts, psychobiological evaluationscould substantiate with the inner emotionality revealed to provideetiological information related to performance hindrances in soccer.Present study was carried out to identify the efficacy of skinconductance (Sc) biofeedback in regulation of sudomotor nerve activity(SNA) and of electromyography (EMG) biofeedback in regulation of peaktorque and maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) in modification ofperformance catastrophe in soccer. All of them were assessed withautonomic measures (SNA and Sc amplitude); electromyography evaluationof emotionality and MVC revealed through EMG. Forty National-selectiongroup soccer players of Malaysia were randomly categorized into fourgroups (Gr. A, N = 10, no-intervention control group); Gr. B (whoreceived Sc biofeedback training); Gr. C (received EMG biofeedbackintervention) and Gr. D (players who received combined training of Scand EMG biofeedback intervention). Players of intervention groupsreceived their respective trainings for 12 weeks (15 min. s /day for 3days/week). Post-intervention analyses revealed marked improvement inthe soccer players who received Sc and EMG biofeedback intervention, andthe combined biofeedback training was evident as most efficientintervention technique in modulating emotionality as well as musclepotentiality. Analysis of variance and repeated measure of ANOVA weredone to observe shared aetiology in the form of direct, inverse andsupportive relationships between psychobiological and emotional indicesrelated to performance crises in soccer. Comprehensive understanding ofthe confounding relationships between subjective feelings emotionalityand corroborative psychobiological indices as predictor of highperformance was achieved.