Does instructing attentional focus direction affect static single leg balance performance?

2021 ◽  
pp. 174795412110585
Author(s):  
Cory J Monahan ◽  
Wendy L Hurley
Keyword(s):  
Postural Control ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Attentional Focus ◽  
Fluctuation Analysis ◽  
Scaling Exponent ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
External Focus ◽  
Balance Task ◽  
And Control

Balance and postural control exercises are generally included as a part of exercise programs, during which movement practitioners can provide instructions to facilitate the performance of motor skills. Instructions can be used as cues to direct attentional focus, which has been found to affect the performance of motor skills, including balance and postural control tasks. However, no known studies to date have investigated the effect of both internal and external attentional focus instructions on static single leg balance performance, and it seems unclear whether effects of such instructions are related specifically to the direction of attention. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of instructing the direction of attentional focus on single leg static balance performance as reflected by the complexity of the center of pressure (COP) profile. Participants (N = 46) between the ages of 19–28 years old were randomly assigned to one of three group conditions: internal focus (INTn=15), external focus (EXTn=16) and control (CONn=15). Participants performed a thirty-five second static single leg balance task. Outcome measures were the scaling exponent determined from a detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) to infer complexity of the COP profile in the anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) directions, and root mean square error (RMSE) of the COP profile in AP and ML directions. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) determined there were no statistically significant differences in the measured variables among groups. The results do not support the claim that manipulating the direction of attentional focus affects static single leg balance performance.

Sex-Specific Dependence of Linear and Nonlinear Postural Control Metrics on Anthropometrics During Clinical Balance Tests in Healthy Young Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-412
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Glass ◽  
Brian L. Cone ◽  
Christopher K. Rhea ◽  
Donna M. Duffy ◽  
Scott E. Ross
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Postural Control ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Fluctuation Analysis ◽  
Scaling Exponent ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Linear And Nonlinear ◽  
Positive Effect

Context: Previous work suggests that balance behavior is a sex-dependent, complex process that can be characterized by linear and nonlinear metrics. Although a certain degree of center of pressure variability may be expected based on sexual dimorphism, there is evidence to suggest that these effects are obscured by potential interactions between sex and anthropometric factors. To date, no study has accounted for such interactive effects using both linear and nonlinear measures. Objective: This investigation sought to analyze interactive models featuring sex, height, and weight as predictors of linear and nonlinear aspects of postural control. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Controlled laboratory. Participants: A total of 26 males (23.80 [3.44] y, 177.87 [6.44] cm, 81.70 [10.80] kg) and 28 females (21.14 [2.03] y, 169.57 [8.80] cm, 64.48 [8.86] kg) were sampled from a healthy university population. Main Outcome Measures: Linear (range [RNG], velocity [VEL], and SD) and nonlinear (detrended fluctuation analysis scaling exponent, multivariate multiscale sample entropy [MMSECI]) summary metrics of center of pressure time series. Procedure: Participants stood on a force plate for 20 seconds in 3 conditions: double (D), single (S), and tandem (T) stance. Data for each stance condition were analyzed using regression models with interaction terms for sex × height and sex × weight. In D, weight had a positive, significant main effect on VELy, MMSECId, and MMSECIv. In men, height was observed to have a positive effect on SDy (S), RNGy (S), and RNGx (T) and a negative effect on MMSECIv (T). In women, weight was observed to have a positive effect on SDy and VELx (both T). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that men and women differ with respect to certain linear and nonlinear aspects of balance behavior, and that these differences may reflect sex-specific behavioral patterns in addition to effects related to sexual dimorphism.

Mindfulness, Movement Control, and Attentional Focus Strategies: Effects of Mindfulness on a Postural Balance Task

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 561-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Hwa Kee ◽  
Nikos N.L.D. Chatzisarantis ◽  
Pui Wah Kong ◽  
Jia Yi Chow ◽  
Lung Hung Chen
Keyword(s):  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Movement Control ◽  
Approximate Entropy ◽  
Attentional Focus ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Dispositional Mindfulness ◽  
Balance Task ◽  
Mindfulness Induction ◽  
Focus Strategies

We examined whether the momentary induction of state mindfulness benefited subsequent balance performance, taking into consideration the effects of dispositional mindfulness. We also tested whether our mindfulness induction, grounded in sustaining moment-to-moment attention, influenced the attentional focus strategies that were adopted by the participants during the balancing task. Balance performance was ascertained based on approximate entropy (ApEn) of the center of pressure (COP) data. The study involved 32 males (age: M = 22.8, SD = 1.94) who were randomly assigned to the mindfulness or control group. Using difference in pretest to posttest performance based on the medio-lateral movements as the dependent variable, the test for interaction showed that the mindfulness induction was more effective for participants with higher dispositional mindfulness. Participants who underwent mindfulness induction also reported greater use of external focus strategies than those in the control group. Results suggest that momentary mindful attention could benefit balance performance and affect the use of attentional focus strategies during movement control.

scholarly journals Effects of white Gaussian noise on dynamic balance in healthy young adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziyou Zhou ◽  
Can Wu ◽  
Zhen Hu ◽  
Yujuan Chai ◽  
Kai Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Gaussian Noise ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
White Gaussian Noise ◽  
Fluctuation Analysis ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Crossover Point ◽  
Short Time

AbstractIt has been known that short-time auditory stimulation can contribute to the improvement of the balancing ability of the human body. The present study aims to explore the effects of white Gaussian noise (WGN) of different intensities and frequencies on dynamic balance performance in healthy young adults. A total of 20 healthy young participants were asked to stand at a dynamic balance force platform, which swung along the x-axis with an amplitude of ± 4° and frequency of 1 Hz. Their center of pressure (COP) trajectories were recorded when they were stimulated by WGN of different intensities (block 1) and different frequencies (block 2). A traditional method and detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) were used for data preprocessing. The authors found that only with 75–85 dB WGN, the COP parameters improved. WGN frequency did not affect the dynamic balance performance of all the participants. The DFA results indicated stimulation with 75 dB WGN enhanced the short-term index and reduced the crossover point. Stimulation with 500 Hz and 2500 Hz WGN significantly enhanced the short-term index. These results suggest that 75 dB WGN and 500 Hz and 2500 Hz WGN improved the participants’ dynamic balance performance. The results of this study indicate that a certain intensity of WGN is indispensable to achieve a remarkable improvement in dynamic balance. The DFA results suggest that WGN only affected the short-term persistence, indicating the potential of WGN being considered as an adjuvant therapy in low-speed rehabilitation training.

scholarly journals Do Children Benefit External Focus of Attention as Much as Adults? A Motor Learning Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Somaye Roshandel ◽  
Hamidreza Taheri ◽  
Amir Moghadam
Keyword(s):  
Motor Skills ◽  
Retention Test ◽  
Attentional Focus ◽  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
Learning Study ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
External Focus ◽  
Internal Focus ◽  
And Task

Recent evidence supports advantages of an external focus of attention on learning motor skills, however, there is a need to retest these finding for children and comparing them with adults. Thus, the purpose of current study was to determine the effect of different attentional focus on learning a motor skill in children and adults. Thirty children (8-12 year) and thirty adults (25-42 years) were randomly assigned to one of four groups: (1) Children external focus of attention (EFA), (2) Children- internal focus of attention (IFA), (3) Adults- External focus of attention (EFA), (4) Adults- internal focus of attention (IFA). Following initial instructions and task demonstration, participants performed 60 darts throwing in six blocks and 24 hours later performed 10 additional throws for retention test. Results revealed that children benefited from EFA and IFA instruction in the same manner, however, adults benefited from EFA more than IFA instruction. Future studies should continue to examine effects of different attentional focus on other skills.

scholarly journals Adolescents’ Postural Control Learning According to the Frequency of Knowledge of Process

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-214
Author(s):  
Julián Gandía ◽  
Xavier García-Massó ◽  
Adrián Marco-Ahulló ◽  
Isaac Estevan
Keyword(s):  
Postural Control ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Physical Education Teachers ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Control Learning ◽  
Skills Learning

Feedback is one of the most influential factors for motor skills learning. Physical Education teachers commonly use verbal cues to provide knowledge of process (KP) when teaching motor skills, but the ideal presentation frequency for KP in adolescents is unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the frequency of KP (i.e., 100%, 67%, 0%) on dynamic balance. Thirty adolescents, age 14–15 years, participated in the study. Performance on a stabilometer platform was used to assess dynamic balance. Participants received feedback after each trial (100%), in two out of three trials (67%), or no feedback during 12 30-s trials of practice. Adolescents who received feedback (67% or 100%) required lower mean velocity to maintain similar dynamic balance performance (i.e., root mean square). Moreover, adolescents receiving 100% feedback had a higher α-scaling than those who did not received it. During the post-test and the retention, both 67% and 100% KP frequencies were effective at improving postural control, compared to the no feedback control.

The automaticity of complex motor skill learning as a function of attentional focus

2001 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 1143-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Wulf ◽  
Nancy McNevin ◽  
Charles H. Shea
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Attentional Focus ◽  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
Skill Learning ◽  
External Focus ◽  
Control Processes ◽  
Attention Focus ◽  
Balance Task ◽  
Internal Focus

The present experiment was designed to test the predictions of the constrained-action hypothesis. This hypothesis proposes that when performers utilize an internal focus of attention (focus on their movements) they may actually constrain or interfere with automatic control processes that would normally regulate the movement, whereas an external focus of attention (focus on the movement effect) allows the motor system to more naturally self-organize. To test this hypothesis, a dynamic balance task (stabilometer) was used with participants instructed to adopt either an internal or external focus of attention. Consistent with earlier experiments, the external focus group produced generally smaller balance errors than did the internal focus group and responded at a higher frequency indicating higher confluence between voluntary and reflexive mechanisms. In addition, probe reaction times (RTs) were taken as a measure of the attention demands required under the two attentional focus conditions. Consistent with the hypothesis, the external focus participants demonstrated lower probe RTs than did the internal focus participants, indicating a higher degree of automaticity and less conscious interference in the control processes associated with the balance task.

Influences of Arm Proprioception and Degrees of Freedom on Postural Control With Light Touch Feedback

2008 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 595-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ely Rabin ◽  
Paul DiZio ◽  
Joel Ventura ◽  
James R. Lackner
Keyword(s):  
Postural Control ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Biceps Brachii ◽  
Postural Sway ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Tactile Feedback ◽  
Contact Forces ◽  
Light Touch ◽  
Postural Stabilization ◽  
And Control

Lightly touching a stable surface with one fingertip strongly stabilizes standing posture. The three main features of this phenomenon are fingertip contact forces maintained at levels too low to provide mechanical support, attenuation of postural sway relative to conditions without fingertip touch, and center of pressure (CP) lags changes in fingertip shear forces by ∼250 ms. In the experiments presented here, we tested whether accurate arm proprioception and also whether the precision fingertip contact afforded by the arm's many degrees of freedom are necessary for postural stabilization by finger contact. In our first experiment, we perturbed arm proprioception and control with biceps brachii vibration (120-Hz, 2-mm amplitude). This degraded postural control, resulting in greater postural sway amplitudes. In a second study, we immobilized the touching arm with a splint. This prevented precision fingertip contact but had no effect on postural sway amplitude. In both experiments, the correlation and latency of fingertip contact forces to postural sway were unaffected. We conclude that postural control is executed based on information about arm orientation as well as tactile feedback from light touch, although precision fingertip contact is not essential. The consistent correlation and timing of CP movement and fingertip forces across conditions in which postural sway amplitude and fingertip contact are differentially disrupted suggests posture and the fingertip are controlled in parallel with feedback from the fingertip in this task.

An External Focus of Attention Improves Stability After a Perturbation During a Dynamic Balance Task

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott W. Ducharme ◽  
Will F.W. Wu
Keyword(s):  
Lateral Displacement ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Attentional Focus ◽  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
External Information ◽  
External Focus ◽  
Balance Task ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Focus Condition ◽  
Focus Strategies

An external focus of attention has been shown to improve balance measures during static postural tasks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different attentional focus strategies in response to a perturbation while performing a dynamic balance task. Participants (n = 29) performed a dynamic balance task that consisted of stepping onto an uneven surface while attempting to continuously walk in a straight line. The orientation of the surface was unknown to the participants. During the external focus conditions, participants were instructed to focus on the surface they walked on. During the internal focus conditions, participants were instructed to focus on keeping their body over their feet. Analyses revealed that the external focus condition exhibited significantly less lateral displacement from the intended walking line following the perturbation (4.56 ± 2.56 cm) than the internal (5.61 ± 2.89 cm, p = .019) and baseline (6.07 ± 2.6 cm, p = .004) conditions. These data indicate that participants were more resilient to the perturbing surface when their attention was focused on external information. Thus, participants were able to respond to a perturbation more effectively when utilizing an external focus of attention.

scholarly journals TEMPORAL AND FRACTAL BEHAVIOR OF THE CENTER OF PRESSURE IN PARKINSONIAN AND HEALTHY ELDERLY COHORTS DURING QUIET STANDING

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 2040036
Author(s):  
SEONHONG HWANG ◽  
JAESUN REE ◽  
JISUN HWANG
Keyword(s):  
Postural Control ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Open Loop ◽  
Quiet Standing ◽  
Fluctuation Analysis ◽  
Area Formula ◽  
Scaling Exponents ◽  
Loop Control ◽  
Scaling Properties ◽  
Healthy Elderly

This study investigated the quantitative scaling properties of the center of pressure (COP) as well as the spatial-temporal properties of the COP to elucidate the postural control behavior of healthy elderly (HE) adults and adults with Parkinson’s disease (PD) during quiet standing. Eighteen adults with PD and eighteen HE adults participated in this study. The COP movements were recorded while participants stood on either a firm surface or on a foam pad with their eyes either opened or closed. The sway ranges in the anterior–posterior (AP) ([Formula: see text] and medio-lateral (ML) ([Formula: see text] directions, the total length of the trajectory ([Formula: see text], sway area ([Formula: see text], and scaling exponents ([Formula: see text] from detrended fluctuation analysis were computed from the measured COP data. All temporal variables of the COP in all conditions were found to be significantly larger in the PD group than in the HE group. Low scaling exponents obtained for the PD group showed this group possessed diminished postural control ability compared to the HE group. The PD group showed unpredictable open-loop control in both the AP and ML directions. This proprioceptive control became predictable and the time scale relations decreased as the postural challenges increased. The AP and ML closed-loop control of the PD group was more predictable than that of the HE group only when proprioception was distorted using intact visual input, and the visual and proprioceptive inputs were both intact.

Single-Leg Balance Performance in Sub-Elite Young Soccer Players and Swimmers as a Function of Age and Sports Experience

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 374-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Leinen ◽  
Thomas Muehlbauer ◽  
Stefan Panzer
Keyword(s):  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Functional Specialization ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Balance Task ◽  
Anterior Posterior

The present study investigated if accumulated, advanced, regular soccer practice (balance-demanding exercise) compared to regular swim practice (non-balance–demanding exercise) induces a more pronounced functional specialization in postural control. Therefore, single-leg balance performance in sub-elite young soccer players (under 13 [U13]: n = 16; U15: n = 18; U19: n = 15), and sub-elite young swimmers (U13: n = 7; U15: n = 4; U19: n = 5) was tested in different balance task conditions (i.e., static and dynamic balance on firm and foam surface). All athletes practiced 3–10 times per week. Single-leg balance of the dominant and non-dominant leg was measured using a force plate. The standard deviation of the center of pressure displacements in anterior-posterior and medio-lateral directions were used as dependent variables. Irrespective of age groups and type of sport, the results failed to indicate significant leg differences in single-leg balance performance. The soccer players showed significant better single-leg balance performance in anterior-posterior direction in the dynamic balance test on the firm and foam surface compared to the swimmers. Functional specialization was accompanied by the type of sport but not by accumulated practice.

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