The Effect of Distance of External Attentional Focus on the Performance of Balance Task in Upper Extremity

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of attentional focus and distance of external focus on the performance of balance task of upper extremity. Subjects (N=30) held a stick (2 m) and maintained it horizontally. All of the subjects performed balance task of upper extremity under four different attentional focus conditions: focus on hand (internal focus), marker at 10 ㎝ inside of hand (external focus 1), marker at 10 ㎝ outside of hand (external focus 2), marker at 20 ㎝ outside of hand (external focus 3). The mean velocity of the bar (㎜/s) and the muscle activity of biceps brachii (%RVC) were measured. They were decreased when the subjects focused on external focuses compared to internal focus and decreased as distance of attentional focus from body increased (p＜.05). There were significant differences between groups (p＜.05); internal focus-external focus 1, internal focus-external focus 2, internal focus-external focus 3, external focus 2-external focus 3. These results showed that external focus is more effective than internal focus in enhancing motor performance and focusing on more distant attentional focus results in enhanced motor performance promoting the utilization of more automatic control mechanisms.