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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. Analyses revealed that the external focus condition exhibited significantly less lateral displacement (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. Moreover, the external focus condition demonstrated different muscle recruitment patterns for both muscle onset and time-to-peak EMG when compared to the internal and baseline conditions. Thus, participants were able to successfully respond to a perturbation when utilizing an external focus. The results of this study expand upon the body of attentional focus knowledge by exhibiting its effects on dynamic balance performance.
Advisor: | Wu, Will F. W. |
Commitee: | Crussemeyer, Jill A., Young, Douglas E. |
School: | California State University, Long Beach |
Department: | Kinesiology |
School Location: | United States -- California |
Source: | MAI 51/03M(E), Masters Abstracts International |
Source Type: | DISSERTATION |
Subjects: | Kinesiology |
Keywords: | |
Publication Number: | 1520898 |
ISBN: | 978-1-267-70295-1 |