| The Effect of Attentional Focus Strategies on Foot Clearance During Obstacle Crossing in Older Women |
| Paper ID : 1419-SPORTCONGRESS (R1) |
| Authors |
|
مصطفی حاج لطفعلیان *, سعیده لطیفی دانشگاه یزد |
| Abstract |
| Abstract Introduction: This study aimed to examine the effects of two types of attentional focus (internal and external) on minimum foot clearance during obstacle crossing in older women. Minimum foot clearance is a key indicator of motor control, and its reduction increases the risk of falls in older adults. Age-related declines in coordination, muscle strength, and sensory–neural function make safe obstacle negotiation more difficult. Attentional focus is also recognized as an important factor in improving motor performance and preventing foot–obstacle contact. Methods: Nineteen healthy older women (mean age 72.6 ± 6.4 years) who could walk independently participated and performed gait trials under three experimental conditions. conditions: 1. Normal walking with an obstacle (no specific attentional instruction), 2. Internal focus (directing attention to their own foot movements), and External focus (directing attention to a visual marker located beyond the obstacle). A 30 cm obstacle was placed 2 m from the start point. Kinematic data were recorded with two iPhone 13 cameras (240 Hz) via OpenCap and analyzed in OpenSim 4.3. Data normality was checked with the Shapiro–Wilk test, and differences among focus conditions were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni correction. Results: The results revealed a significant difference among the three attentional focus conditions (p = 0.012). The external focus condition produced a significantly greater foot clearance compared to both the baseline (p = 0.032) and internal focus (p = 0.005) conditions. However, no significant difference was observed between the internal focus and baseline conditions (p = 0.915). Conclusion: The results indicate that external attentional focus improves motor control and foot clearance, reduces fall risk, and enhances coordination and balance in older women. Therefore, using external focus strategies in training and rehabilitation is recommended to promote safer movement. |
| Keywords |
| Keywords: Attention Strategies, Foot Clearance, Crossing Obstacles, Elderly Women. |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Oral Presentation) |
