The Causes of and Psychological Responses to Lost Move Syndrome in National Level Trampolinists

Lost Move Syndrome (LMS) can be described as a psychological condition in which athletes find themselves unable to perform a skill that was previously automatic. This study examined the psychological causes of and responses to LMS using semi-structured interviews with 15 elite trampolinists. Responses were analyzed using inductive content analysis, which led to a total of 54 raw data themes forming 6 general dimensions. Results showed that despite positive experiences before the recognizable start of the syndrome LMS could be traced back to initial skill acquisition and a gradual increase in pressure from various sources. This then lead to negative emotional reactions including self-presentation concerns and perceptions of poor coping strategies. A change in cognitions surrounding the initial motor program of the move also left the sufferer with altered perceptions and visual memory of the skill. Participants expressed that coping strategies were unsuccessful due to the current lack of knowledge surrounding the syndrome. Applied suggestions are offered for sport psychology consultants working with athletes suffering from LMS.