Journal of Motor Control and Learning
Volume:4 Issue: 3, Summer 2022

Contemporary theories propose that adopting an external focus of attention allows the body’s system to self-organize, resulting in more efficient and automated control of motor behavior. In that context, our purpose in this study was to measure heart rate to test whether altering focus of attention would elicit a physiologic response during a static balancing task.

Twenty-three college aged participants (M = 23.3 ± 5.63 years) balanced on an AccuSway Balance Platform while performing a secondary supra-postural task. Center of pressure (COP) and heart rate was measured throughout each trial. Participants completed three baseline trials followed by three trials in each of two experimental conditions presented in a counterbalanced order. In the baseline trials, participants were instructed to “maintain your balance to the best of your ability.” Internal focus (IF) instructions were “focus on minimizing movement of your hand, while maintaining your balance to the best of your ability.” External focus (EF) instructions were “focus on minimizing movement of the sheet, while maintaining balance to the best of your ability.”

Results indicated: (a) a significant change in heart rate during trials in all conditions, p < .001, (b) a significantly lower heart rate for trials completed in the baseline condition compared to trials completed under either the IF or EF instructional set, p < .001, and (c) a significantly more rapid lowering in heart rate during trials completed under EF instructions compared to IF instructions, p < .001. There were no significant differences in the COP between any of the conditions (p >0.05).

The results of this study demonstrate that the complexity and attentional direction of instructions may differentially influence heart rate responses during motor performance. Further explanations and implications for future research are discussed.

 The transfer of motor skills is one of the central topics in motor behavior and speaks to the effects of learned motor skills on learning or performing other skills. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the transfer of skillful fine or moderately-fine movements to novel tasks requiring similar movements. 

The study involved 43 undergraduate university students in three groups: university musicians, athletes, and a control cohort.  Two novel motor tasks were performed that required either fine hand movements (pursuit rotor task), or moderately-fine arm movements (underhand dart throw task).

For the fine motor task, musicians performed better than the athletes and the control (p<0.05), but did not demonstrate less movement asymmetry than the other groups, as hypothesized (p>0.05).  For the moderately-fine task, the athletes performed better than the other two groups (p<0.05), and in particular, with the dominant arm (p<0.05), as hypothesized.

A lack of shared elements between musical instrument playing skills and the novel fine motor task likely contributed to the relatively low levels of performance with the musicians.  Conversely, the presence of more shared elements between sports throwing skills and the novel moderately-fine task likely contributed to greater levels of performance by the athletes.

Maintaining balance is an important factor in blind people. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects and permanency of core stability training on static and dynamic balance in the blind.

In Sepideh Norouzi School for the blind in Kermanshah, among the available students, 30 blind male and female students were selected and randomly divided into two groups: control (mean age: 9.81 years) and experimental (mean age: 9.7 years) groups. Firstly, static and dynamic balance were measured using Bess & Y balance tests respectively. Then, the experimental group performed core stability training for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week (15 to 20 minutes per session). Static and dynamic balance tests were performed again after the end of the training and also two months later.

Findings using repeated measures analysis of variance showed that core stability training, immediately after training had significant positive effects on static (p= 0.005) and dynamic (p= 0.001) balance. Also, two months after the end of the training, the positive effects of the training on static (p= 0.009) and dynamic (p= 0.012) balance were significant.

Based on this, it can be said that core stability training can be used to strengthen static and dynamic balance, with long-term effects in blind people. Therefore, it is recommended that trainers pay attention to these training to improve balance in the blind.

Chronic low back pain (LBP) has been one of the most challenging medical problems worldwide which have led to many disabilities and physical problems. The purpose of this study was a comparison of the effect of walking forth, back, and side in the water for 8 weeks on pain intensity, and motor activity in men with chronic low back pain.

In this quasi-experimental study, 30 men with chronic LBP were selected by purposive sampling method and randomly divided into three groups: walking forward, walking backward, and walking sideways. Exercises were performed for 8 weeks with a frequency of 3 sessions per week and each session lasted 30-45 minutes. Pain intensity was measured by the Quebec pain scale and motor function with the temporal rise and move test (TUG) and stork stand test (Stork test).

The results of paired t-test showed that walking in water backward, forwards, and sideways significantly reduced the pain intensity and increase the motor function of the subjects in the post-test compared to the pre-test (p=0.001). Examination of the results of group comparison with one-way analysis of variance showed that there was no significant difference between walking methods on subjects' pain intensity and motor function with the stork test (p> 0.05).  

This article showed that 8 weeks of walking exercises in water reduced pain intensity and increased motor function in chronic LBP. It can be suggested that these exercises are effective for the treatment of chronic LBP.

Dynamic balance is a crucial variable in lower limb maneuvering in different age groups and different sports, and is a framework for other movements in adulthood. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of basic karate exercises on children's dynamic balance.

The sample size consisted of 30 boys aged 6 to 12 years (8.7 ± 1.47) without any experience in karate practice, which was purposefully selected from the students in the city of Sedeh, that they were matched into two experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups after taking the balance pre-test (5-line star test). The experimental group performed basic karate exercises at the level of the yellow belt for four weeks (3 sessions of 90 minutes), and the control group performed, physical training exercises and school games. The post-test was taken at the end of the training session.

Mixed analysis of variance showed that the main effect of time (p=0.001) and group (p= 0.048) was significant. The results of paired t-test showed there was a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores in the experimental group (P= 0.001). Also, the independent t-test showed experimental group compared to the control was a higher score in the post-test (p=0.01).

Based on the research findings, it can be suggested that physical education instructors and teachers can use it to improve the dynamic balance in their students due to the ease of performing karate exercises and no need for special facilities.

Limitation of tibio-tarsal joint mobility in diabetic patients can occur within a few years of diagnosis, even in young patients. This joint movement deficit is believed to be due to stiffness in muscles, tendons, joint capsules, ligaments, and skin. With this in mind, the aim of this study is to design an experimental protocol of orthopedic manual therapy and therapeutic exercise in the future for subjects with diabetes, reduced joint mobility, and subsequent insufficient dorsal flexion of the tibio-ankle, and to test the reduced avampodalic pressure that correlates with an increased ulcerative risk.

A patient aged 64, male, overweight, family history of type II diabetes, self-employed, and diagnosed with diabetes type 2.

The patient was evaluated with inertial motion sensors, a Baropodometric platform, a Lounge test, and MWM. Already after the first session, an improvement in plantar pressures was observed with a decrease both in the peaks from 413.6 Kpa to 99 Kpa in both feet and in the average plantar pressures from 129.8 Kpa to 54.5 Kpa for both feet with a decrease in plantar pressures at the forefoot from 43.7 % to 33.2 %. Tissue elasticity was assessed with the Lunge Test, and increased from 8 cm to 9.5 cm.

The results suggest that the role of manual treatment combined with an exercise program could increase tarsal dorsiflexion and consequently decrease plantar pressures.