Effects of Attentional Focus and Dual-tasking on Conventional Deadlift Performance in Experienced Lifters

Alan Chan, Gordon E. Robertson, Yves Lajoie

Abstract


Background: Previous attentional focus literature suggests that adopting an external focus (EF) results in greater force production through a variety of mechanisms. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of attentional focus and dual-tasking when performing heavily loaded barbell movements that are specific to strength-based sports. Method: Fifteen resistance-trained males (age = 23.3 ± 3.4 years) reported to the laboratory for three visits. The first visit consisted of a five-repetition maximum (5RM) test on the conventional deadlift. During the subsequent sessions, the participants performed a total of twelve single conventional deadlift repetitions while adopting an internal focus (IF), an external focus (EF), or while performing the cognitive task (COG). The IF and EF consisted of focusing on activating the quadriceps and maintaining a straight bar path, respectively. The COG consisted of counting the total occurrence of two single-digits in a sequence of three-digit numbers, separately. Three-dimensional motion capture and force platforms were used to collect kinematic and kinetic data. Results: No significant differences were found between the IF, the EF and the COG for lift duration, peak barbell velocity, peak vertical ground reaction force, area of 95% confidence ellipse, peak hip moments and peak hip powers. Adopting an EF significantly reduced variability of the barbell trajectory and centre of pressure (COP) in the anterior-posterior direction. Mean velocity of COP was also significantly lower for the EF. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that adopting an EF may lead to greater postural stability when performing heavily loaded barbell movements.

Keywords


Cognition, Attention, Athletic Performance, Cues, Movement, Posture, Resistance Training, Weight Lifting

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abdollahipour, R., Wulf, G., Psotta, R., & Nieto, M. (2015). Performance of gymnastics skill benefits from an external focus of attention. Journal of Sports Sciences, 33(August 2015), 1–7. doi:10.1080/02640414.2015.1012102

Al-Abood, S. A., Bennett, S. J., Hernandez, F. M., Ashford, D., & Davids, K. (2002). Effect of verbal instructions and image size on visual search strategies in basketball free throw shooting. Journal of Sports Sciences, 20(3), 271–278. doi:10.1080/026404102317284817

Baechle, T.R., Earle, R.W., Wathen, D. (2000). Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning, 2: 395-425.

Bell, J. J., & Hardy, J. (2009). Effects of Attentional Focus on Skilled Performance in Golf. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 21(2), 163–177. doi:10.1080/10413200902795323

Calatayud, J., Vinstrup, J., Jakobsen, M. D., Sundstrup, E., Brandt, M., Jay, K., Colado, J.C., Andersen, L. L. (2016). Importance of mind-muscle connection during progressive resistance training. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 116(3), 527–533. doi:10.1007/s00421-015-3305-7

Chiviacowsky, S., Wulf, G., & Ávila, L. T. G. (2013). An external focus of attention enhances motor learning in children with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 57(7), 627–634. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2012.01569.x

Chulvi-Medrano, I., Garcia-Masso, X., Colado, J., Pablos, C., Alves de Moraes, J., & Fuster, M. (2010). Deadlift Muscle Force and Activation Under Stable and Unstable Conditions. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(10), 2723–2730. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181f0a8b9

De Luca C.J., Kline J.C. (2012) Influence of proprioceptive feedback on the firing rate and recruitment of motoneurons. Journal of Neural Engineering 9:016007. doi:10.1088/1741-2560/9/1/016007

Dempster, W.T. (1955). Space requirements of the sealed operator. In: WADC Technical Report. Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH, pp. 55–159

Kal, E. C., Van Der Kamp, J., & Houdijk, H. (2013). External attentional focus enhances movement automatization: A comprehensive test of the constrained action hypothesis. Human Movement Science, 32(4), 527–539. doi:10.1016/j.humov.2013.04.001

Kearney, P. E. (2015). A distal focus of attention leads to superior performance on a golf putting task. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 13(4), 371–381. doi:10.1080/1612197X.2014.993682

Lohse, K. R., Sherwood, D. E., & Healy, A. F. (2010). How changing the focus of attention affects performance, kinematics, and electromyography in dart throwing. Human Movement Science, 29(4), 542–555. doi:10.1016/j.humov.2010.05.001

Lorist M.M., Kernell D., Meijman T.F., Zijdewind I. (2002). Motor fatigue and cognitive task performance in humans. The Journal of Physiology 545:313-9. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2002.027938

Luk, H.-Y., Winter, C., O’Neill, E., & Thompson, B. (2014). Comparison of Muscle Strength Imbalance in Powerlifters and Jumpers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(1), 23–27. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e318295d311.

Marchant, D., Clough, P., & Crawshaw, M. (2007). The Effects of Attentional Focusing Strategies on Novice Dart Throwing Performance and Their Task Experiences. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 44(0), 291–303. doi:10.1080/1612197X.2007.9671837

Marchant, D. C., Greig, M., Bullough, J., & Hitchen, D. (2011). Instructions to adopt an external focus enhance muscular endurance. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 82(3), 466–73. doi10.1080/02701367.2011.10599779

Marchant, D.C., Greig, M., Scott, C. (2009). Attentional focusing instructions influence force production and muscular activity during isokinetic elbow flexions. Strength and Conditioning Research, (20), 2358–2366. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b8d1e5

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. doi10.1519/JSC.0b013e31823f275c

Oliver, J. M., Mardock, M. A., Biehl, A. J., & Riechman, S. E. (2010). Macronutrient intake in Collegiate powerlifters participating in off season training. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 7(Suppl 1), P8. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-7-S1-P8

Polskaia, N., Richer, N., Dionne, E., & Lajoie, Y. (2014). Continuous cognitive task promotes greater postural stability than an internal or external focus of attention. Gait & Posture, 41(2), 454–458. doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2014.11.009

Poolton, J. M., Maxwell, J. P., Masters, R. S. W., & Raab, M. (2006). Benefits of an external focus of attention: Common coding or conscious processing? Journal of Sports Sciences, 24(1), 89–99. doi:10.1080/02640410500130854

Porter, J. M., Nolan, R. P., Ostrowski, E. J., & Wulf, G. (2010). Directing attention externally enhances agility performance: A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the efficacy of using verbal instructions to focus attention. Frontiers in Psychology, 1(NOV), 1–7. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2010.00216

Porter, J., Wu, W., & Partridge, J. (2010). Focus of Attention and Verbal Instructions: Strategies of Elite Track and Field Coaches and Athletes. Sport Science Review, XIX(3–4). doi:10.2478/v10237-011-0018-7

Richer, N., Saunders, D., Polskaia, N., & Lajoie, Y. (2017). The effects of attentional focus and cognitive tasks on postural sway may be the result of automaticity. Gait & Posture, 54, 45–49. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2017.02.022

Robertson, D. G. E., & Dowling, J. J. (2003). Design and responses of Butterworth and critically damped digital filters. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 13(6), 569–573. doi:10.1016/S1050-6411(03)00080-4

Schoenfeld, B. J., Vigotsky, A., Contreras, B., Golden, S., Alto, A., Larson, R., Paoli, A. (2018). Differential effects of attentional focus strategies during long-term resistance training. European Journal of Sport Science, 18(5), 705–712. doi:10.1080/17461391.2018.1447020

Snyder, B. J., & Fry, W. R. (2012). Effect of Verbal Instruction on Muscle Activity During the Bench Press Exercise. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 26(9), 2394–2400. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e31823f8d11

Totsika, V., & Wulf, G. (2003). The Influence of External and Internal Foci of Attention on Transfer to NovelSituations and Skills. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 74(2), 220–225.doi: 10.1080/02701367.2003.10609084

USAPL and Administrators. I. USAPL Rulebook and By-Laws. 2001.

Wulf, G. (2013). Attentional focus and motor learning: a review of 15 years. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 6(1), 77–104. doi:Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2012.723728

Wulf, G., & Dufek, J. S. (2009). Increased jump height with an external focus due to enhanced lower extremity joint kinetics. Journal of Motor Behavior, 41(5), 401–409. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/00222890903228421

Wulf, G., Dufek, J. S., Lozano, L., & Pettigrew, C. (2010). Increased jump height and reduced EMG activity with an external focus. Human Movement Science, 29, 440–448. doi:10.1016/j.humov.2009.11.008

Wulf, G., Shea, C., & Park, J. H. (2001). Attention and motor performance: preferences for and advantages of an external focus. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 72(April 2015), 335–344. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2001.10608970

Wulf, G., & Su, J. (2007). An external focus of attention enhances golf shot accuracy in beginners and experts. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 78(4), 384–389. doi:10.5641/193250307X13082505158336

Wulf, G., Zachry, T., Granados, C., & Dufek, J. S. (2007). Increases in jump-and-reach height through an external focus of attention. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 2(3), 275–284. doi:10.1260/174795407782233182

Zachry, T., Wulf, G., Mercer, J., & Bezodis, N. (2005). Increased movement accuracy and reduced EMG activity as the result of adopting an external focus of attention. Brain Research Bulletin, 67(4), 304–309. doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2005.06.035

Zourdos, M., Jo, E., Khamoui, A., Lee, S.-R., Park, B.-S., Ormsbee, M., Panton, L., Contreras, R., Kim, J.-S. (2015). Modified Daily Undulating Periodization Model Produces Greater Performance Than a Traditional Configuration in Powerlifters. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 784–791. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001165




DOI: https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijkss.v.7n.4p.9

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Bookmark and Share


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

2013-2024 (CC-BY) Australian International Academic Centre PTY.LTD.

International Journal of Kinesiology and Sports Science

You may require to add the 'aiac.org.au' domain to your e-mail 'safe list’ If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox'. Otherwise, you may check your 'Spam mail' or 'junk mail' folders.