An interdisciplinary examination of attentional focus strategies used during running gait retraining

Abstract

The aim was to investigate the biomechanical, physiological, and perceptual responses to different motor learning strategies derived to elicit a flatter foot contact. Twenty‐eight rearfoot‐striking recreational runners (age 24.9 ± 2.8 years; body mass 78.8 ± 13.6 kg; height 1.79 ± 0.09 m) were matched by age, mass, and height and assigned to one verbal cue group: internal focus of attention (IF), external focus of attention (EF), and a clinically derived condition (CLIN) incorporating an IF followed by an EF statement. Participants completed two treadmill runs at 10 km h−1 for 6 minutes each: normal running (control) followed by the experimental condition (IF, EF, or CLIN). Lower limb kinematics, oxygen consumption (normalV˙normalO2), and central and peripheral ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded for each run. Compared to the control condition, foot angle was reduced in the IF (difference = 5.86°, d = 2.58) and CLIN (difference = 3.00°, d = 1.31) conditions, but unchanged in the EF condition (difference = 0.33°, d = 0.14), while greater knee flexion at initial contact in the EF and CLIN conditions was observed (difference = −5.19°, d = 1.97; difference = −3.66°, d = 1.39, respectively). A higher normalV˙normalO2 was observed in the CLIN condition (difference = −4.56 mL kg−1 min−1, d = 2.29), but unchanged in the IF (difference = −1.87 mL kg−1 min−1, d = 0.94) and EF conditions (difference = −0.37 mL kg−1 min−1, d = 0.19). All experimental conditions increased central and peripheral RPE (difference = −1.08, d = 0.54 and difference = −2.39, d = 1.33, respectively). Providing gait retraining instructions using an internally directed focus of attention was the most effective way to target specific changes in running kinematics, with no detrimental effect on physiological responses. Yet, perceptual effort responses increased regardless of the type of cue provided.

Humans Optimize Ground Contact Time and Leg Stiffness to Minimize the Metabolic Cost of Running

“…The medium strength relationship between perceived effort and metabolic cost in the current study supports our second hypothesis, but is below the criterion presented by Chen et al (2002) in their meta-analysis for treadmill exercise (95% CI for r = 0.478-0.629) and submaximal exercise (95% CI for r = 0.766-0.870). When the habitual running condition was controlled for the relationship weakened, suggesting the disrupted gait produced a disconnect between metabolic cost and perceived effort as previously observed in our laboratory (Moore et al, 2019). The act of manipulating running gait through verbal cues likely shifted attentional focus and heightened the sensed effort of the mechanical demand of running.…”

“…The act of manipulating running gait through verbal cues likely shifted attentional focus and heightened the sensed effort of the mechanical demand of running. Consequently based on the study's findings, in addition to recent work (Moore et al, 2019), utilizing perceived effort as a surrogate to determine the effect of changing running gait on metabolic cost and/or using it to monitor technique-focused training responses due to its association with metabolic cost should be undertaken with caution.…”

“…The specific verbal instructions provided were "make contact with the ground in time with the beat of the metronome and to respond to the cue provided." The verbal cue was given every 30s (Moore et al, 2019) and were as follows: condition (1) increase contact time more than usual; condition (2) increase contact time as much as possible; condition (3) decrease contact time more than usual and; condition (4) decrease contact time as much as possible. Throughout each run breath-by-breath respiratory data were recorded using an online gas analysis system (OxyconPro, Jaeger at Viasys Healthcare, Warwick, UK) and RPE was recorded on Borg's 6-20 scale (Borg, 1998) at the end of each run.…”

Trunk rotation enhances movement of the knee abduction angle while running among female collegiate middle- and long-distance runners

“…Running causes large mechanical stress on the lower limb at contact with the floor (TS Keller et al, 1996). Continued running with poor form results in repetitive exposure to large mechanical stresses, resulting in running-related injuries (running injuries) (Phanpho and Rao, 2019;Moore et al, 2019;Roy and Cheung, 2011). The annual occurrence of running injuries has been reported to range from 19.4% to 79.3% (van Gent et al, 2007).…”

Real-time feedback by wearables in running: Current approaches, challenges and suggestions for improvements

“…• Formulate feedback that promotes an external focus rather than internal focus on automated processes. Instructing a runner to increase knee flexion before ground contact may, for example, induce an internal focus, whereas instructing the runner to 'land quietly' may have the same biomechanical effect, but with a focus on the intended effect (external focus (Moore et al, 2019)).…”