Computerized Agility Training Improves Change-of-Direction and Balance Performance Independently of Footwear in Young Adults

Effects of Open Skill Visuomotor Choice Reaction Time Training on Unanticipated Jump-Landing Stability and Quality: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Adapting movements rapidly to unanticipated external stimuli is paramount for athletic performance and to prevent injuries. We investigated the effects of a 4-week open-skill choice-reaction training intervention on unanticipated jump-landings. Physically active adults (n = 37; mean age 27, standard deviation 2.7 years, 16 females, 21 males) were randomly allocated to one of two interventions or a control group (CG). Participants in the two intervention groups performed a 4-week visuomotor open skill choice reaction training, one for the upper and one for the lower extremities. Before and after the intervention, two different types of countermovement jumps with landings in split stance position were performed. In the (1) pre-planned condition, we informed the participants regarding the landing position (left or right foot in front position) before the jump. In the (2) unanticipated condition, this information was displayed after take-off (350–600 ms reaction time before landing). Outcomes were landing stability [peak vertical ground reaction force (pGRF) and time to stabilization (TTS)], and landing-related decision-making quality (measured by the number of landing errors). To measure extremity-specific effects, we documented the number of correct hits during the trained drills. A two-factorial (four repeated measures: two conditions, two time factors; three groups) ANCOVA was carried out; conditions = unanticipated versus pre-planned condition, time factors = pre versus post measurement, grouping variable = intervention allocation, co-variates = jumping time and self-report arousal. The training improved performance over the intervention period (upper extremity group: mean of correct choice reaction hits during 5 s drill: +3.0 hits, 95% confidence interval: 2.2–3.9 hits; lower extremity group: +1.6 hits, 0.6–2.6 hits). For pGRF (F = 8.4, p < 0.001) and landing errors (F = 17.1, p < 0.001) repeated measures effect occurred. Significantly more landing errors occurred within the unanticipated condition for all groups and measurement days. The effect in pGRF is mostly impacted by between-condition differences in the CG. No between-group or interaction effect was seen for these outcomes: pGRF (F = 0.4, p = 0.9; F = 2.3, p = 0.1) landing errors (F = 0.5, p = 0.6; F = 2.3, p = 0.1). TTS displayed a repeated measures (F = 4.9, p < 0.001, worse values under the unanticipated condition, improvement over time) and an interaction effect (F = 2.4, p = 0.03). Healthy adults can improve their choice reaction task performance by training. As almost no transfer to unanticipated landing successfulness or movement quality occurred, the effect seems to be task-specific. Lower-extremity reactions to unanticipated stimuli may be improved by more specific training regimens.

Lower Extremity Open Skill Training Effects on Perception of Visual Stimuli, Cognitive Processing, and Performance

This study investigates if lower extremity open-skill training impacts perception and cognitive processing abilities or just influences task related motor abilities. Twenty-two participants (24.7 ± 2.4years; 11 males, 11 females) were randomly allocated either into the group that trained on a computerized device or to the control group. Prior to and following the 4-week study period, motor performance was assessed using drop jump, hexagon test, postural control and lower extremity choice reaction. Perception, cognitive processing and task inhibition were captured using validated neurocognitive tests. Repeated measurements analyses of co-variances (ANCOVAs) were performed. They revealed a time (before and after intervention) × group (training vs. control) effect on lower extremity choice reaction and hexagon (p < .05). No effects on group differences or between groups in cognitive performance were found. A detrimental effect of training on accuracy of task inhibition (lower percentage of correct inhibitions) was detected. Computerized open skill training affects specific movement patterns without increasing task-relevant cognitive or perceptual abilities. Indicated by the lower percentage of correct inhibitions, the training might further detrimentally influence the risk-taking behavior during choice reaction tasks.

Explaining Upper or Lower Extremity Crossover Effects of Visuomotor Choice Reaction Time Training

Current evidence indicates a strong relation between improved visuomotor choice reaction time (VMRT) and a reduced risk of lower extremity injury, making both lower- and upper extremity VMRT training paradigms valuable to athletes. This investigation studied as yet unconfirmed crossover effects of upper extremity training on lower extremity performance; and we evaluated underlying relevant perceptual and cognitive adaptations. In this three-armed, randomized, controlled intervention, we used a computerized training device to compare participants receiving four weeks of upper ( n = 12) and lower ( n = 12) extremity VMRT training with a control group ( n = 13) of healthy participants. Collectively, our participants had a mean age of 24.6 years ( SD = 2.2), a mean height of 173 cm ( SD = 10), and a mean weight of 69.6 kg ( SD = 12.1); 57% ( n = 21) were female and 43% ( n = 16) were male. We assessed participants’ upper and lower extremity VMRT performance and domain-specific perceptual and cognitive abilities before and after intervention and analyzed differences between their before and after performances. Lower extremity training enhanced VMRT performances for both lower extremity and crossover upper extremity. Upper extremity training improved VMRT for upper extremity and increased cognitive choice reaction performance but yielded no crossover effects to lower extremity. We found no effects of VMRT training on other domain-specific cognitive performance markers (attention, executive function, memory, or working memory). VMRT training modulated only task-specific cognitive performance and induced crossover effects from lower extremity training to upper extremity performance but not vice versa.