Diekfuss JA, Rhea CK, Schmitz RJ, Grooms DR, Wilkins RW, Slutsky AB, Raisbeck LD. The Influence of Attentional Focus on Balance Control over Seven Days of Training.
J Mot Behav 2018;
51:281-292. [PMID:
29792580 DOI:
10.1080/00222895.2018.1468312]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the training effect of attentional focus (external focus, internal focus, or no focus instructions) on a dynamic balance task. Participants completed baseline balance testing, seven consecutive days of dynamic balance board training, and retention testing 24 hours after the last session. The novel finding of this study was the presence of a training effect on balance control when adopting an external focus relative to an internal focus or no focus instructions. Further, we report the unique observation that more patterned behavior was adopted regardless of the focus instructions. These findings provide insight into how instructions can be altered to enhance human balance control and complement the constrained-action hypothesis.
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