Attentional Focus Influence During Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test

Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre

Status: Completed

Conditions: Muscle Weakness Condition; Muscle Weakness; Neck; Anomaly

Treatments: Other: External Focus of Attention; Other: Internal Focus of Attention; Other: Control

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03567122

MSS_ME_01

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to termine if a different attentional focus would alter the motor control in cervical muscles during the cranio-cervical test.

Full description

Asymptomatic subjects will be recruited to this study. Superficial electromyography of the Sternocleidomastoid, Range of Motion (ROM) and Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test (CCFT) will be measured before, immediately after change in focus of attention, 2 days after training under a particular focus of attention, and 7 days after training the task under the same focus of attention.

Subjects will be randomized into three groups: Internal focus of attention, external focus of attention and control group.

Enrollment: 90 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Asymptomatic subjects

Exclusion criteria

• Cervical pain
• Historic of trauma/surgery to the cervical or thoracic spine or upper limbs
• Temporomandibular pain
• Neurological or systemic disorder

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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90 participants in 3 patient groups

Internal Focus of Attention

Experimental group

Description:

30 subjects will be randomized to this arm. Only internal focus of attention feedback instructions will be given during the execution and training performing the Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test. The subjects allocated to this arm will not be allowed to use the visual feedback traditionally provided during the Cranio-cervical Flexion Test.

Treatment:

Other: Internal Focus of Attention

External Focus of Attention

Experimental group

Description:

30 subjects will be randomized to this arm. Only external focus of attention feedback instructions will be given during the execution and training performing the Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test. The subjects allocated to this arm will not be allowed to use the visual feedback traditionally provided during the Cranio-cervical Flexion Test. In addition, they will use just a laser point attached to the head to guide their cranio-cervical flexion.

Treatment:

Other: External Focus of Attention

Control

Active Comparator group

Description:

30 subjects will be randomized to this arm. The participants allocated to this arm will be instructed as traditionally during the Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test. They will be given visual feedback while have their attention guided to the inner neck movement.

Treatment:

Other: Control