The Effect of Different Focus of Attention Instructions on Resistance Training and Its Transfer to Gait Parameters in Older Adults

Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Healthy; Healthy Aging

Treatments: Other: Strength training with an internal focus of attention; Other: Strength training with a proprioceptive external focus of attention; Other: Strength training with a visual external focus of attention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06538766

1236- Fractal of attention

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effects of strength training with different focus of attention strategies on plantar flexor force and how this affects gait in apparently healthy older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Is there an acute effect of focus of attention on non-linear force variability and the subjacent neurophysiological mechanisms in apparently healthy young and older adults?
• Is there a training effect of focus of attention on non-linear force variability and does it transfer to non-linear gait variability as well as the respective subjacent neurophysiological mechanisms in apparently healthy older adults?

Researchers will compare two different external focus strategies with an internal focus to see if non-linear variability increases and subjacent neurophysiological mechanisms are more automized with an external focus of attention compared to an internal focus. In the acute study young adults are assessed as the differences between focus conditions are thought to be in the same direction as for older adults but attenuated.

Participants will carry out training and strength assessments of the calf muscles and walking on a treadmill.

Enrollment: 45 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

- Signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Severe cardiovascular or pulmonary disease
• Oncological disease
• Lower limb disabilities
• Neurological disorders
• Inability to walk unassisted for 12 continuous minutes
• Cognitive impairment
• Falls in the prior 12 months
• Orthopedic concerns, which might limit force production
• Metal implants
• Medicine that can trigger side effects with TMS

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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45 participants in 3 patient groups

Internal Focus Condition

Active Comparator group

Description:

In the internal focus condition the participant is instructed to realize seated calf raises by focusing on contracting the plantar-flexors. In clinical applications the internal focus is the most commonly used instruction. It is not possible to have a neutral focus condition, as participants always have to receive instructions and will always be focusing on something. Therefore, the internal focus condition is used as an active comparator.

Treatment:

Other: Strength training with an internal focus of attention

Proprioceptive External Focus Condition

Experimental group

Description:

In the proprioceptive external focus condition the participant is instructed to realize seated calf raises by focusing on lifting the machine's bar.

Treatment:

Other: Strength training with a proprioceptive external focus of attention

Visual External Focus Condition

Experimental group

Description:

In the visual external focus condition the participant is instructed to realize seated calf raises by focusing on a line representing the displacement of the bar projected on a screen.

Treatment:

Other: Strength training with a visual external focus of attention