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Attentional focus strategies, especially external focus, are associated with improvements in mechanisms of postural control. This can be important in reducing sports injuries in practices such as running, which has seen an increase in adherence. However, the impacts of these strategies on postural control in runners are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of internal and external focus strategies on postural control performance with different bases of support tasks in runners. A total of 19 young adults (18–38 years old) were divided into a running group (n = 9) and a control group (n = 10). Posturography tests were performed on stable and unstable surfaces, under control, and internal and external focus conditions. The distance, mean velocity, and total velocity of the center of pressure were analyzed (p ≤.05). There was a reduction in oscillation under external focus compared to internal and control conditions, as well as under internal focus compared to the control condition. A Group × Surface × Focus interaction for the variables distance and mean velocity in the mediolateral direction was found only for the control group. However, no significant effects were found between groups for postural control performance. Attentional focus strategies were able to reduce postural sway, with external focus condition being the most effective. Practitioners can benefit from these strategies to increase postural control performance to help reduce the number of injuries and improve sports performance. It is speculated that the effects of attentional control strategies on postural control may differ depending on the specific adaptations of each sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Power output is dependent on the load used during exercise such as bench-press throw (BPT). Attentional focus (external [EXT] vs internal [INT]) during exercise significantly modulates power performance. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of load and attentional focus on mechanical parameters during BPT. Methods: In a crossover study, 31 resistance-trained men (mean age 23.5 [3.0] y) performed BPT at 30% (light), 50% (moderate), and 70% (heavy) of 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) using an INT or EXT focus of attention in randomized order. A linear encoder was used to identify barbell vertical displacement, throw time, peak/average velocity, force, and power during the concentric lifting phase. Results: Statistical analysis revealed significant load × focus interaction effects for velocity and vertical displacement (P ≤.045; 0.66 ≤ d ≤ 0.89). Post hoc analyses indicated significantly larger velocities and displacements at 30% and 70% of 1-RM in favor of EXT (P ≤.038; 0.79 ≤ d ≤ 1.13) but similar values at 50% of 1-RM (P >.05). Furthermore, significant main effects of load were found for throw time, force, and power (P <.001; 4.20 ≤ d ≤ 14.0). While time and force gradually increased with higher loads (P <.001; 1.45 ≤ d ≤ 14.0), power output was larger at 50% compared with 30% and 70% 1-RM (P <.001; 3.09 ≤ d ≤ 7.07), irrespective of attentional focus. Conclusions: The present findings indicated that practitioners may use EXT over INT attentional focus to enhance velocity and vertical displacement during BPT at light and heavy loads (ie, 30% and 70% 1-RM). At moderate loads (ie, 50% 1-RM), mechanical bench-press parameters appear to be less affected by attentional focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A holistic focus (HF) has been found to significantly improve performance over an internal focus (IF), in a similar way to an external focus (EF). There is a need to understand the effectiveness of a HF by investigating kinematic and kinetic outcome measures. 19 college-aged adults performed 12 vertical jumps under four conditions in a counterbalanced design. The conditions were, IF, EF, HF, and control, or no focus condition. All participants performed the vertical jumps on a force plate with 16 reflective markers placed on the lower extremities. Separate repeated measures ANOVAs with Sidak post-hoc were used to analyze jump height, flight height, peak force, takeoff velocity, and knee and hip flexion. A significant main effect for jump height was observed (p < 0.001). HF and EF jumped significantly higher than IF (p < 0.001; p < 0.001). EF also jumped significantly higher than control (p<.05). No significant main effects were observed for any kinematic or kinetic dependent variables. The results of this experiment support previous research by observing performance benefits of HF and EF over an IF. However, the benefits of HF and EF cannot be attributed to the kinetic or kinematic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attentional focus during the execution of perceptual motor tasks has been shown to affect performance outcomes. The purpose of this study is to assess the physiological changes prompted by attentional focus in various levels of stress. Thirty-six healthy young males and females were randomized into groups and directed on attentional focus in a staged putting competition scenario intended to elicit competitive anxiety. External focus groups experienced less internal workload at all arousal levels and preserved heart rate variability measures when audiovisual distraction was introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directing the attentional focus towards intended movement effects could enhance individual performance. This meta-analysis examines the immediate effects of an instructed external (proximal/distal) and internal attentional focus on an experimental group and a control group on their performance. A systematic review was done following the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 3833 reports were scanned. Of these, 83 were included in the systematic review, and 61 studies were included into the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis was additionally split into the original categories, which included the instructions as mentioned in the paper, and the adapted classifications, for which the instructions were reclassified based on the definition by [Wulf, G. (2013). Attentional focus and motor learning: A review of 15 years. International Review of sport and Exercise psychology, 6(1), 77–104. doii:10.1080/1750984X.2012.723728 and McNevin, N. H., Shea, C. H., & Wulf, G. (2003). Increasing the distance of an external focus of attention enhances learning. Psychological Research, 67(1), 22–29. doii:10.1007/s00426-002-0093-6]. In line with the constrained-action hypothesis, an external attentional focus instruction enhanced the immediate performance compared to an internal attentional focus instruction (SMDadapted = 0.24) and the control group (SMDadapted SMD = 0.31). Also, consistent with the constrained-action hypothesis, distal external attentional focus instructions showed performance-enhancing effects compared to proximal external attentional focus instructions (SMDadapted = 0.23). However, most comparisons showed moderate to substantial heterogeneity and wide prediction intervals. Therefore, the results cannot be generalized for all tasks and skill levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attentional focus during the execution of perceptual motor tasks has been shown to affect performance outcomes. The purpose of this study is to assess the physiological changes prompted by attentional focus in various levels of stress. Thirty-six healthy young males and females were randomized into groups and directed on attentional focus in a staged putting competition scenario intended to elicit competitive anxiety. External focus groups experienced less internal workload at all arousal levels and preserved heart rate variability measures when audiovisual distraction was introduced.

Study design: Cross-over study. Context: The squat, single-leg squat, forward lunge, and reverse lunge are fundamental movements often performed in activities of daily living, sports competitions, and sport-specific training. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of visual feedback with a laser sensor (VFLS) versus a control condition on the myoelectric activity (surface electromyography [sEMG]) of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO), vastus lateralis, gluteus medius (Gmed), and erector spinae muscles during the performance of several squat variations with bodyweight. Methods: Nineteen female college students (20 [2.5] y, 165.3 [10.2] cm, 66.4 [4.1] kg, 2 [1.2] y of resistance training experience) with a background in strength or sports training volunteered to participate in this study. Over 4 separate visits, subjects performed 2 sets of 10 repetitions of a squat variation exercise in random order (ie, squat, single-leg squat, forward lunge, and reverse lunge). The first set of a given squat variation condition was considered a control set, and then after 3-minute rest, a second set was performed with VFLS. Results: Significant decreases in VMO and Gmed myoelectric activity were observed during the VFLS set versus the control set for the forward lunge exercise (P =.03). No differences were observed between the control set and VFLS set in the sEMG normalized signal for all muscles analyzed for the squat and single-leg squat, respectively. However, the sample entropy of the sEMG signal for the erector spinae became more irregular during the VFLS set versus the control set for the squat exercise (P =.01), whereas the Gmed presented a more irregular sEMG signal during the VFLS set versus the control set for the single-leg squat (P =.08). Conclusion: Laser sensor biofeedback may induce significant decreases in VMO and Gmed activation performing forward lunge exercise. Therefore, laser sensor biofeedback may induce a reduction in muscle activity of neutralizers muscles during a few squat bodyweight variations (bilateral, single-leg, forward, and reverse lunge). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidence suggests that one of the benefits of external focus is facilitating task focus. To this extent, an external focus might influence cognitive function. To help elucidate the underlying mechanisms of attentional focus instructions, the aim of this study was to examine the influence of attentional focus instructions on cognitive stability and task focus, as indicated by the number of eye blinks, during an interceptive timing task with children who are at a crucial stage of motor coordination development. Twenty-four children (Mage = 10.4 ± 0.9 years) performed a forehand drag shot with a floorball stick to hit a tennis ball at a target in each of three different attentional focus conditions: external focus "focus on the blade of the stick", internal focus "focus on their hands", and control (no focus instructions). A mobile eye tracker was used to record the number of eye blinks from the moment that the tennis ball was released by an experimenter from the top of a boccia ramp to the moment of the initial movement of the floorball stick. Results showed that the accuracy of hits was significantly better in the external focus relative to the internal focus condition. Also, the number of eye blinks was significantly lower in the external focus relative to the internal focus and control conditions. Findings suggest that improved cognitive stability and task focus may underlie the improved performance associated with an external focus in a visually demanding motor task in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Motor imagery (MI) has emerged as an individual factor that may modulate the effects of attentional focus on motor skill performance. In this study, we investigated whether global MI, as well as its components (i.e., kinesthetic MI, internal visual MI, and external visual MI) moderate the effect of attentional focus on performance in a group of ninety-two young adult novice air-pistol shooters (age: M = 21.87, SD = 2.54). After completing the movement imagery questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3), participants were asked to complete a pistol shooting experiment in three different attentional focus conditions: (1) No focus instruction condition (control condition with no verbal instruction) (2) an internal focus instruction condition, and (3) an external focus condition. Shot accuracy, performance time, and aiming trace speed (i.e., stability of hold or weapon stability) were measured as the performance variables. Results revealed that shot accuracy was significantly poorer during internal relative to control focus condition. In addition, performance time was significantly higher during external relative to both control and internal condition. However, neither global MI, nor its subscales, moderated the effects of attentional focus on performance. This study supports the importance of attentional focus for perceptual and motor performance, yet global MI and its modalities/perspectives did not moderate pistol shooting performance. This study suggests that perception and action are cognitively controlled by attentional mechanisms, but not motor imagery. Future research with complementary assessment modalities is warranted to extend the present findings.

Akbaş, A, Marszałek, W, and Król, H. Presence of an overhead goal does not improve the effectiveness of jump training. J Strength Cond Res 37(4): e280–e288, 2023—This study investigated the effectiveness of jump training with and without an overhead goal (OG) on a modified countermovement jump (CMJ) tested in a similar manner, with and without OG. Fifty-two men divided into 3 groups—trained with OG, trained without OG, and untrained—were examined: before the commencement of training; after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of training; and 2 weeks after the discontinuation of training. Each session consisted of 50 modified CMJ and was performed 3 times per week. Countermovement jump height, mean power, peak power, countermovement depth, and take-off phase time were quantified, and the statistical level was set at p < 0.05. Although the results showed the beneficial effect of OG on jump height (p < 0.01), the training with OG did not bring significantly better results than training without OG. In addition, the group trained without OG improved after 2 weeks in both testing conditions (with and without OG), whereas the group trained with OG improved after 2 weeks when tested with OG and only after 6 weeks when tested without OG. We believe the use of OG in jump training may be detrimental when the OG is withdrawn from the testing procedure because of its strong motivational and feedback features. Consequently, athletes in disciplines which require them to jump toward an object located over their head during a game, e.g., a ball or crossbar, should be tested with the presence of OG. Despite this, OG is still an important factor in maximizing jump performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motor imagery (MI) has emerged as an individual factor that may modulate the effects of attentional focus on motor skill performance. In this study, we investigated whether global MI, as well as its components (i.e., kinesthetic MI, internal visual MI, and external visual MI) moderate the effect of attentional focus on performance in a group of ninety-two young adult novice air-pistol shooters (age: M = 21.87, SD = 2.54). After completing the movement imagery questionnaire-3 (MIQ-3), participants were asked to complete a pistol shooting experiment in three different attentional focus conditions: (1) No focus instruction condition (control condition with no verbal instruction) (2) an internal focus instruction condition, and (3) an external focus condition. Shot accuracy, performance time, and aiming trace speed (i.e., stability of hold or weapon stability) were measured as the performance variables. Results revealed that shot accuracy was significantly poorer during internal relative to control focus condition. In addition, performance time was significantly higher during external relative to both control and internal condition. However, neither global MI, nor its subscales, moderated the effects of attentional focus on performance. This study supports the importance of attentional focus for perceptual and motor performance, yet global MI and its modalities/perspectives did not moderate pistol shooting performance. This study suggests that perception and action are cognitively controlled by attentional mechanisms, but not motor imagery. Future research with complementary assessment modalities is warranted to extend the present findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the influence of the individual and sequential combination of the key components of OPTIMAL (Optimizing Performance Through Intrinsic Motivation and Attention for Learning) theory (i.e., enhanced expectancies, autonomy support, and external focus), on the performance of a laser-pistol shooting task. In addition to shooting accuracy, intra-trial variability in the sway of forearm/pistol motion prior to movement execution (pulling the trigger) was the primary variable of interest. In a between-within-subject design, thirty-six participants (Mage = 21.27 ± 1.75 years) were randomized into either a control or an optimized group. Enhanced expectancies, autonomy support, and an external focus were implemented via sequential blocks of trials for participants in the optimized group. Participants in the control group performed all trials under "neutral" conditions. Our results showed that motor performance was enhanced for participants in the optimized group compared to those in the control group. Moreover, greater reductions in forearm sway leading up to the trigger pull were observed for the optimized group compared to the control group. These findings suggest higher movement effectiveness and efficiency, potentially through better attunement to task and environmental constraints, when implementing optimized instructions in a self-initiated fine motor task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large body of research suggests that during learning motor skills, focusing on environmental effects of the movement (external focus) generally leads to better performance than focusing on one’s own body (internal focus). The functionality hypothesis states, in contrast, that the superiority of any attentional focus is task dependent. The present study aimed to test the predictions of the latter and searched for underlying mechanisms and task characteristics for one or the other focus being more functional. In Experiment 1, we examined whether the internal focus is superior in a difficult body-oriented balance task. In Experiment 2, we added visual feedback and investigated whether this would enhance the functionality of the external focus. In both experiments, the participants stood one-legged on a balance board and had to shift their centre of pressure (COP) to predefined target points. Per instruction, they were asked to interpret their attentional focus on the COP as either internal (the sole of the foot) or external (the platform). In Experiment 1, the external focus was induced through a mental image. The internal focus group performed significantly better, thereby supporting the functionality hypothesis. In Experiment 2, the COP was dynamically visualized on a screen. The internal focus superiority vanished. We suggest that the internal focus is more functional in motor-learning situations that provide more effect information through body-internal senses than through body-external senses. In these cases, the external focus hampers learning because it is associated with additional cognitive load.

An external focus of attention, enhanced expectancies, and autonomy support (i.e., OPTIMAL factors) are key factors to optimise motor performance and uncover latent movement capabilities. However, research on the combination of OPTIMAL factors, particularly in children's dynamic movement settings is limited. Therefore, this study examined the combined effects of OPTIMAL factors on children's performance on a dynamic movement assessment battery, hypothesising higher performance scores in the optimised version of the assessment battery versus standardised version of the assessment. Forty-nine children (15 boys, 34 girls; mean age 10.61 ± 1.38 years) completed the Dragon Challenge (DC) dynamic movement assessment battery. Performance was measured via a summation of movement process (technique), outcome, and time-to-completion scores (max score N = 54) with higher scores representing better performance. Participants completed a standardised and an optimised version of the DC in a counterbalanced fashion. For the latter, DC protocols were optimised via the provision of choice (autonomy support); external focus instructions augmented by simple knowledge statement, positive feedback and promotion of a growth mindset (Enhanced expectancies). Results indicate that motor performance (DC score) was better in the optimised (M = 31.08 ± 6.66) vs. standardised (M = 29.04 ± 5.88). The findings indicate that the combination of OPTIMAL factors can improve children's motor performance in dynamic movement settings and that standardised motor assessment may not reveal children's true movement capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: External attentional focus has an advantage over internal attentional focus in improving closed motor skills and in tasks involving the use of physical fitness components. This superiority was also found in a short run. Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine whether the external attentional advantage was maintained among young learners during 60 meter sprint Method: 134 4th grade students were divided into three research groups: an external focus group (25 boys, 26 girls), an internal focus group (28 boys, 24 girls) and a control group (14 boys, 17 girls). Participants performed a first measurement of a 60-meter sprint and then received intervention according to their research group. After the intervention, another measurement was performed to examine the effect of the intervention on performance. Results: Among the girls, no difference was found in the running times before and after the intervention and no interaction was found between the results and the study groups. Among the boys, no significant difference was found between running times before and after intervention, but an interaction was found between the results and the study groups (F = 7.022, p = 0.002). Post-hoc tests show that the external focus group ran worse in the second run (12.67 sec) (p <0.05), compared to the internal focus group (11.99 sec) and the control group (11.89 sec). Discussion and Conclusions The internal focus improved the boys' performance. That is, young learners produce an advantage in internal focus like novice golfers and those who don’t perform the skill automatically. It is possible that the lack of effect of the focus among girls is related to the fact that their competitiveness component is low compared to boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adults (N = 54, 80.78 ± 6.08 years) who reported falling during the previous 12 months participated in a 12-week wobble board training program with internal focus or external focus (EF) instructions. Verbal manipulation checks were performed after training sessions as a self-report of the attentional foci used. The percentage of sessions in which participants reported using an EF (EFSR) was subsequently calculated. Mean velocity and mean power frequency in the anterior–posterior (MVELOAP and MPFAP) and medial–lateral (MVELOML and MPFML) direction were assessed during a 35-s wobble board task at Weeks 0, 6, 12, 13, 16, and 20, with the latter three as retention tests. Piecewise linear growth models estimated treatment effects on individual growth trajectories of MVELOAP and ML and MPFAP and ML during intervention and retention periods. Regardless of condition, MVELOML significantly decreased (π = −.0019, p =.005) and MPFML increased (π =.025, p <.02) during the intervention period. In analyses including interaction terms, participants in the EF group who reported greater EFSR had superior progression of MPFAP during the intervention (π =.0013, p =.025). Verbal manipulation checks suggest a preference for and advantage of EF for facilitating postural control performance and automaticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the distance of varying focus of attention for experienced and novice golfers on a golf putting task. Forty-eight experienced and 48 novice golfers were randomized into four attentional focus conditions: control (no instruction), internal (i.e., focus on the arm movement), external proximal (i.e., focus on the golf club), and external distal (i.e., focus on the target) conditions. Performance outcomes (the perceived level of confidence and number of golf putts made) were recorded. Experienced golfers had better performance outcomes than novice golfers. The external proximal focus was specifically beneficial for novice golfers, while experienced golfers had an advantage in both external focus instructions. The external proximal focus might enable a perception-action process for novice golfers to compare the relationship between action planning and the surrounding environment. In addition, the transition to expertise might result in no difference between both external focus instructions for experienced golfers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apply It!: • Explore how attentional focused cues affect performance based on exercise modality and intensity. • Identify how and when to apply cues that target internal or external focus to optimize training for clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Chronic ankle instability is a common injury in athletes that leads to postural control disorders. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of external focus of attention and postural task alone on center of pressure sway in athletes with chronic ankle instability and healthy athletes during dual task training. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 29 male volleyball athletes with a referral from a specialist and 29 healthy athletes matched with the affected group in terms of age, height and weight. Subjects in the two groups were on the balance board with single-leg and double-leg stance, standing in the center of the force plate for 60 seconds and performing postural tasks alone and with external focus. The degree of displacement of the pressure center was measured to investigate the variables of standard deviation of amplitude and mean velocity. FINDINGS: In double-leg stance, standard deviation of amplitude in medio-lateral (14.2±2.1) and anterior-posterior (16.7±3.3), mean velocity in medio-lateral (39.2±9.8) and anterior-posterior (40.7±6.1) directions in patients during external focus were significantly less than the standard deviation of amplitude in medio-lateral (12.2±1.5) and anterior-posterior (13.9±2.4), mean velocity in medio-lateral (46.2±13.1) and anterior-posterior (48.4±9.6) directions during the single task. In single-leg stance, standard deviation of amplitude in medio-lateral (16.1±2.1) and anterior-posterior (13.1±1.7), mean velocity in medio-lateral (42.2±13.3) and anterior-posterior (40.7±8.6) directions in patients during external focus were significantly less than the standard deviation of amplitude in medio-lateral (11.1±2.1) and anterior-posterior (17.4±3.3), mean velocity in medio-lateral (47.8±16.6) and anterior-posterior (55.2±17.4) directions during the single task. CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that external focus task leads to distraction from postural control and reduces postural sway in athletes with chronic ankle instability.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the holistic focus of attention(H-FOA), presented as an alternative attention concept, to explore effective attention focus for the skilled performer. Methods KPGA's experts (N = 24) were selected and randomly assigned to external focus, overall focus and control groups. Experiments were conducted in the putting competition of the target distance (4m, 5m and 6m). Performance was measured for accuracy. Results Interestingly, the control group showed the high putting performance accuracy (MRE). In addition, the holistic focus of attention group was able to identify performance similar to the control group. The effect of external attention focus could not be confirmed. Conclusions Results of this study indicate that external focus may be unnecessary for skilled golfers. Rather, holistic focus of attention is highlighted for the improvement of players’ attentional focus under pressure.

In modern business conditions, organizational culture is recognized as a powerful tool for long-term survival and development of the organization. The purpose of this paper was to research whether and in what way the characteristics of organizations - such as its size, ownership structure, activity, domestic or foreign - influence the organizational culture. Because of continuous and rapid changes and enormous competition, which are features of modern business, the Denison model of organizational culture was chosen because it emphasizes the need for balance between requirements for organizational stability (factors of mission and consistency) and requirements for its adaptability (factors of involvement and adaptability). The survey covered a sample of 1,000 employees and the data was statistically processed using the one-way ANOVA method. The obtained results show the influence of organizational characteristics on its ability to balance the internal and external focus of the organization, its stability, and its ability to change. Likewise, there should be a certain organizational cultural transformation as a response to the paradigm change in wider environment should be a certain organizational cultural transformation as a response to the paradigm change in wider environment.

The OPTIMAL theory of motor learning postulates that autonomy support (AS), enhanced expectancies (EE), and an external focus of attention (EF) facilitate improved motor learning and performance. However, its applicability to elite-level throwing athletes has not been investigated by previous literature. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the successive implementation of AS, EE, and EF factors on overhand throwing performance in elite collegiate softball athletes (14.44 ± 2.75 years of softball experience). The secondary purpose was to determine whether self-efficacy beliefs would be augmented by factor manipulation. Twenty-four participants threw softballs at a bullseye target during five blocks. The Baseline test (Block 1) was used to subsequently assign participants to either the OPTIMAL or control group. Three middle blocks (Block 2 to 4) followed with successive factor implementation for the OPTIMAL group and without instruction for the control group. The final block (Block 5) served as the Transfer test, at which time throwing distance was increased. During Blocks 2 to 4, the OPTIMAL group was given the choice between softballs (AS), a liberal definition of successful throwing performance (EE), and instructed to focus on the bullseye (EF). Self-efficacy beliefs were assessed after applying the factors and before all blocks. There were no significant differences between the groups in throwing accuracy or self-efficacy scores across all blocks. The results suggest that the OPTIMAL theory does not augment skilled throwing performance or alter self-efficacy in elite softball throwing, potentially attributed to a natural adoption of EF and previously high self-efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The key purpose of this study was to examine the impact of integrated thinking and reporting on organisational decision making in the context of public sector enterprises in Jordon. Methodology/Design: The primary quantitative data have been collected in this study through a survey questionnaire. The collected data has been analysed through SEM technique, in which the tests of Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and path assessment are conducted. Findings: The findings of this study reveal the significant impact of connectivity, effective governance, external focus, and integrated communication on organisational decision making. The variable of external financing is found to have a significant moderating impact on the association between connectivity and organisational decision making, and also between effective governance and organisational decision making. Research Limitations: The absence of qualitative data has been one of the major limitations of this study. Apart from that, the limited scope of this study on the public sector enterprises in Jordan has been another major research limitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attentional focus strategies, especially external focus, are associated with improvements in mechanisms of postural control. This can be important in reducing sports injuries in practices such as running, which has seen an increase in adherence. However, the impacts of these strategies on postural control in runners are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of internal and external focus strategies on postural control performance with different bases of support tasks in runners. A total of 19 young adults (18-38 years old) were divided into a running group (n = 9) and a control group (n = 10). Posturography tests were performed on stable and unstable surfaces, under control, and internal and external focus conditions. The distance, mean velocity, and total velocity of the center of pressure were analyzed (p ≤ .05). There was a reduction in oscillation under external focus compared to internal and control conditions, as well as under internal focus compared to the control condition. A Group × Surface × Focus interaction for the variables distance and mean velocity in the mediolateral direction was found only for the control group. However, no significant effects were found between groups for postural control performance. Attentional focus strategies were able to reduce postural sway, with external focus condition being the most effective. Practitioners can benefit from these strategies to increase postural control performance to help reduce the number of injuries and improve sports performance. It is speculated that the effects of attentional control strategies on postural control may differ depending on the specific adaptations of each sport.

Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of adopting external focus of attention compared to internal focus of attention in children's motor performance and learning. The purpose of present study was to determine whether the external focus of attention had any effect on efficiency (reduction of EMG activity) of children's motor performance. The participants (twenty 8-10-year-old children) first performed vertical jump task in the control condition, then performed under two conditions in a counterbalanced order: external attentional focus and internal attentional focus. In the control condition, the participants performed vertical jump without giving attentional focus instruction. In the external focus condition, the participant's attention was directed to the rungs of a measurement device, namely, Vertec and in the internal focus condition, their attention was directed to their fingers with which they were to touch the rungs. The participants performed 8 vertical jumps in every three conditions and the heights of their jumps were measured. In addition, EMG activity of various muscles (anterior tibialis, biceps femoris, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, and gastrocnemius) was measured when participants jumped, using electromyography. Results showed that the external focus of attention led to significantly better performance (higher vertical jump) compared to internal focus and control conditions. Also, in the external focus condition, EMG activity was significantly reduced compared to internal the focus and control condition. This present study suggests that adopting external attentional focus will improve effectiveness and efficiency of children's movement in tasks which require maximum force production.

Background: External attentional focus has an advantage over internal attentional focus in improving closed motor skills and in tasks involving the use of physical fitness components. This superiority was also found in a short run. Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine whether the external attentional advantage was maintained among young learners during 60 meter sprint Method: 134 4th grade students were divided into three research groups: an external focus group (25 boys, 26 girls), an internal focus group (28 boys, 24 girls) and a control group (14 boys, 17 girls). Participants performed a first measurement of a 60-meter sprint and then received intervention according to their research group. After the intervention, another measurement was performed to examine the effect of the intervention on performance. Results: Among the girls, no difference was found in the running times before and after the intervention and no interaction was found between the results and the study groups. Among the boys, no significant difference was found between running times before and after intervention, but an interaction was found between the results and the study groups (F = 7.022, p = 0.002). Post-hoc tests show that the external focus group ran worse in the second run (12.67 sec) (p <0.05), compared to the internal focus group (11.99 sec) and the control group (11.89 sec). Discussion and Conclusions The internal focus improved the boys' performance. That is, young learners produce an advantage in internal focus like novice golfers and those who don’t perform the skill automatically. It is possible that the lack of effect of the focus among girls is related to the fact that their competitiveness component is low compared to boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The present study examined the influence on motor performance of key variables described in the OPTIMAL (Optimizing Performance Through Intrinsic Motivation and Attention for Learning) theory of motor learning: enhanced expectancies for future performance, autonomy support, and an external focus. Participants performed a nine-pin bowling task. In the optimized group, enhanced expectancies, autonomy support, and an external focus were implemented on three successive blocks of 12 trials. In the control group, participants performed all trials under "neutral" conditions. The optimized group outperformed the control group on all blocks. The findings corroborate the importance of key variables in the OPTIMAL theory by demonstrating immediate benefits of their implementation for motor performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention often involves instructing athletes to reduce landing stiffness. Instructions promoting an external focus appear to result in superior motor performance for a wide range of tasks; however, the effect of attentional focus on landing stiffness has not been examined. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the influence of instructions promoting an internal focus vs. those promoting an external focus on landing stiffness. It was hypothesized that both types of instructions would reduce landing stiffness vs. landings performed prior to instruction. It was also hypothesized that participants would demonstrate a greater reduction in landing stiffness when provided with instructions promoting an external focus. Study Design: Cross-sectional, quasi-experimental Methods: Sixteen female athletes (basketball, soccer, volleyball) completed drop landings while force and kinematic data were collected. Participants first performed drop landings with their typical technique (baseline). They then received instructions promoting an internal focus and an external focus before performing additional drop landings. Peak force, time-to-peak force, leg stiffness, and hip, knee, and ankle sagittal plane angles were analyzed. Results: Both types of instructions resulted in lower landing forces, less leg stiffness, and greater hip and knee flexion versus at baseline. However, athletes demonstrated more knee flexion at the time of the peak force (59.4 ± 9.6° vs. 56.0 ± 9.5°) and less leg stiffness (69.5 ± 17.9 Nkg-1/m vs. 84.0 ± 38.1 Nkg-1/m) when provided with instructions promoting an external focus, compared to when they were provided with instructions promoting an internal focus. Conclusion: Instructions promoting an external focus appear to result in a greater reduction in landing stiffness. Clinicians should consider providing instructions promoting an external focus when training athletes to reduce lower extremity stiffness during drop landings. The findings from this study may help to inform clinicians involved in movement pattern re-training for female athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

focus of attention is widely used as a training method. This method helps to improve skill performance. The optimal focus of attention has always been a basic question for many researchers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different focus of attention instructions on muscular endurance of expert kung Fu athletes. In a semi-experimental design with repeated measurements 16 expert athlete of kung Fu were selected via available and purposeful sampling. They tried to perform the wall sit test under 4 different conditions internal focus (Attention to keeping the knee at 90 angle), the external near (focus on standing like a chair), external far (Attention to a computer screen displaying a chair) and control (without attention instructions). Within-group variance analysis results with repeated measurements showed that the control condition was meaningfully better than three other conditions (p

Aim: One of the issues that have been considered more than before is the issue of aging. An aging is a period that is accompanied by gradual, progressive and spontaneous erosion changes in most physiological devices and functions of the body. One of the widespread problems that occur in the aging process is the loss of balance, increased fluctuations and the risk of falling. Falling down is one of the most common and most serious problems are aging. For this reason, today, many researchers have drawn attention to the various ways in which elderly people develop their balance. Recently, some researchers have found that the use of cognitive strategies such as self-talk can improve the performance of motor tasks. Self-talk, essentially has two main instructional and motivational functions. Motivational self-talk through increased self-confidence and instructional self-talk by enhancing focus on techniques improve their sports performance and learning skills. On the one hand, it is important to increase the effectiveness of the instructions in order to focus on the focus. Wolfe's researches (1998-1992), given the constrained action hypothesis in most sports skills as well as balance skills, suggest that the use of external attention in comparison with internal attention during the skill leads to better performance and learning. Several studies have been conducted on motivational and instructional self-talk about different athletic skills and different skill levels that have led to a variety of outcomes, but few studies have considered the scope of balance. So, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of attentional focus types as the self-talk form on static and dynamic balance in elderly women using instructional self-talk focus strategy. Methodology: The present study was a quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test. The experimental group included instructional self-talk with internal focus and instructional self-talk with external attention as well as a control group. The population of the study consisted of all elderly women living in the nursing home in Qazvin who 45 people (66.75 ± 5.65 years) were selected according to the inclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria included Lack of movement restrictions, non-fracture in the lower extremities in the past year and the lack of use of neurological drugs. After the pre-test they were randomly assigned to groups. The control group without self-talk, self-talk group with internal focus and self-talk group with external focus practice their balance skills during the five sessions. At the end of the fifth session, the post- test was conducted using static balance (stork) and dynamic balance (timed up and go) tests. In the stork test, the subject must stand on top of his leg, lift the other leg and stick to the knee of the leg, and simultaneously place his hands on the iliac crest of the pelvis. The time that a person could stand open with his eyes was considered as an indicator of his static balance ability. Each subject performed the test three times and the highest time was recorded. The errors that caused the test to be stopped include lifting the hands from iliac crest of the pelvis, detaching the leg from the knee of the foot and any movement on the foot of the reliance.Each subject performed a three-time test of timed up and go, and his best time was recorded. Since the subject was announcing his stand, the timer began to work, and the timer stopped when it hit the subject back with chair. The self-talk group with the instruction of focus of the internal attention, repeated the words "knee and foot" before each loud performance, which meant "bending slightly knees and maintaining the balance on the foot", and the external attention group referred to the term "target and wall" Which meant "looking at the target mounted on the wall.Results: One-way ANOVA, mixed ANOVA and repeated measure ANOVA were used to analyze the data. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 20. The significance level was considered 0.05. The results showed that both self-talk groups performed significantly better than the control group in static balance.Conclusion: However Self-talk interferences with both types of attentional focus; it was not a significant difference in the dynamic balance of elderly people (P≥0.05). Taking the results into consideration it can be concluded that, self-talk with internal and external focus instructions can be considered as a cognitive strategy to improve the static balance of elderly people.

Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of adopting external focus of attention compared to internal focus of attention in children's motor performance and learning. The purpose of present study was to determine whether the external focus of attention had any effect on efficiency (reduction of EMG activity) of children's motor performance. The participants (twenty 8-10-year-old children) first performed vertical jump task in the control condition, then performed under two conditions in a counterbalanced order: external attentional focus and internal attentional focus. In the control condition, the participants performed vertical jump without giving attentional focus instruction. In the external focus condition, the participant's attention was directed to the rungs of a measurement device, namely, Vertec and in the internal focus condition, their attention was directed to their fingers with which they were to touch the rungs. The participants performed 8 vertical jumps in every three conditions and the heights of their jumps were measured. In addition, EMG activity of various muscles (anterior tibialis, biceps femoris, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, and gastrocnemius) was measured when participants jumped, using electromyography. Results showed that the external focus of attention led to significantly better performance (higher vertical jump) compared to internal focus and control conditions. Also, in the external focus condition, EMG activity was significantly reduced compared to internal the focus and control condition. This present study suggests that adopting external attentional focus will improve effectiveness and efficiency of children's movement in tasks which require maximum force production.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Chronic ankle instability is a common injury in athletes that leads to postural control disorders. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of external focus of attention and postural task alone on center of pressure sway in athletes with chronic ankle instability and healthy athletes during dual task training. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 29 male volleyball athletes with a referral from a specialist and 29 healthy athletes matched with the affected group in terms of age, height and weight. Subjects in the two groups were on the balance board with single-leg and double-leg stance, standing in the center of the force plate for 60 seconds and performing postural tasks alone and with external focus. The degree of displacement of the pressure center was measured to investigate the variables of standard deviation of amplitude and mean velocity. FINDINGS: In double-leg stance, standard deviation of amplitude in medio-lateral (14.2±2.1) and anterior-posterior (16.7±3.3), mean velocity in medio-lateral (39.2±9.8) and anterior-posterior (40.7±6.1) directions in patients during external focus were significantly less than the standard deviation of amplitude in medio-lateral (12.2±1.5) and anteriorposterior (13.9±2.4), mean velocity in medio-lateral (46.2±13.1) and anterior-posterior (48.4±9.6) directions during the single task. In single-leg stance, standard deviation of amplitude in medio-lateral (16.1±2.1) and anterior-posterior (13.1±1.7), mean velocity in medio-lateral (42.2±13.3) and anterior-posterior (40.7±8.6) directions in patients during external focus were significantly less than the standard deviation of amplitude in medio-lateral (11.1±2.1) and anteriorposterior (17.4±3.3), mean velocity in medio-lateral (47.8±16.6) and anterior-posterior (55.2±17.4) directions during the single task. CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that external focus task leads to distraction from postural control and reduces postural sway in athletes with chronic ankle instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the individual and combined influences of two factors that have been shown to benefit motor performance: an external focus of attention and the visual context of a target being aimed for. In a within-subjects design participants completed golf putts using control (C), internal (IN) and external (EX) attentional focus (AF) instructions under target-based visual illusion (perceptually larger (PLT) versus smaller (PST) targets) conditions. Twenty-six novice golfers completed six putts in each counterbalanced condition. Mean radial accuracy (cm) was calculated. Through the use of surrounding distracting visual stimulus, an Ebbinghaus illusion aimed to induce PLT or PST during putting. Verbal instruction directed attention to C (no specific focus), IN (arm movements) or EX (movement effect focus) focuses prior to execution. The Ebbinghaus illusions significantly altered perceived target size. Significant main effects indicated: (1) greater accuracy in EX (PLT: 27.32 vs. PST 31.46 cm) vs. IF (30.50 vs. 39.82 cm) and C (32.11 vs. 36.97 cm); (2) accuracy was benefited when putting towards the PLT vs. PST. No AF × Illusion interaction was evident. Performance was independently affected by AF and target visual context (e.g. perceived target size), suggesting different mechanisms in motor execution: instructions influence the control of movement whereas the target conditions inform motor planning through perceptual and motivational variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• We test the effects of attentional focus while addressing previous study limitations. • An external focus facilitates better pole-holding performance in DCD and TDC. • An external focus concurrently promotes greater postural stability in DCD and TDC. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different attentional focus conditions (external focus (EF) vs. internal focus (IF) vs. no focus (NF)) on the performance of a pole-holding task and postural stability in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and typically developing children (TDC), while addressing previous study limitations. A total of 186 participants were enrolled in the analysis comprising 91 children with DCD (28 in the EF, 32 in the IF, and 31 in the NF condition) and 95 TDC (31 in the EF, 33 in the IF, and 31 in the NF condition). Participants were required to hold a pole with their hands still and parallel to the floor while focusing on pole movement (EF), focusing on hands (IF), or without focus instructions (NF), while pole movements and postural sway were recorded. Results showed that pole movements were significantly smaller during the EF condition (p < 0.05) compared with IF and NF conditions for both the DCD and TDC groups. In addition, postural sway was significantly lower during the EF condition compared with IF and NF conditions (p < 0.05). This study verified that the EF condition can not only facilitate better performance in holding a pole horizontal and immobile, but also concurrently promote greater postural stability than both IF and NF conditions for children with DCD and TDC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined whether an internal or external attentional focus would affect participants' feet-in-place balance response to postural stance perturbations. A movable platform automatically slid forward or backward while healthy participants stood on it and (a) performed no cognitive activity (control), (b) focused on the pelvis or upper body sway (internal focus), (c) memorized a number displayed immediately before the platform slid (external focus), or (d) kept the equilibrium of an unstable cylinder over the arm (external focus). The forward displacement of the pelvis induced by the platform sliding forward was smaller when participants focused on their pelvic sway, although such effect was absent when they focused on their upper body sway, indicating that the internal focus was effective for the postural response when attention was paid to the pelvic sway. Regarding an external attention focus, the forward displacement of the pelvis induced by the platform sliding forward was smaller when participants focused on the equilibrium of an unstable object over the arm, but this effect was absent when they focused on the number, indicating that an external focus was only effective when the unstable object focused upon was relevant to the equilibrium of one's own body. No attentional intervention was effective during backward sliding of the support surface, indicating that central set for responding to postural perturbation depends on the direction of the postural perturbation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Included among the components of current rehabilitation programs are combinations of exercise that aim to improve muscle strength and motor control. In many contexts, the patients must acquire, or re-acquire, motor skills so they can organize the motor responses necessary to limit the possibility of musculoskeletal damage. This article examines the principles of motor learning that can support clinical practice to improve patients' neuromuscular function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of internal versus external focus of attention instructions on performance and learning in individuals with either kinesthetic or visual motor imagery dominance. In experiment l, we tested the effects of internal versus external focus instructions on stahilometer balance performance using a within-subjects design. The results revealed that individuals with higher visual imagery scores performed the task better under an external focus conditions than an internal focus. Also, no significant differences for attentional focus were observed for individuals with higher kinesthetic imagery scores. In experiment 2, we investigated the effects of internal versus external focus instruction on the performance and learning of dart throiving task using a between-subjects design. Results indicated that kinesthetic dominant participants performed better during acquisition irrespective of attentional focus. However, during retention visual dominant had more accurate throivs when adopting an external focus compared to visual dominant participants who adopted an internal focus. No differences were observed when kinesthetic dominant participants adopted an external focus compared to kinesthetic dominant participants that adopted an internal focus. These results indicate that visual dominant participants may benefit more from external focus instruction, but neither focus is more effective for individuals dominant in kinesthetic imagery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]