The Effect of Different Focus of Attention Instructions on Resistance Training and Its Transfer to Gait Parameters in Older Adults

NCT ID: NCT06538766

Last Updated: 2025-09-18

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 45 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-04-01
• Study Completion Date: 2026-04-30

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effects of strength training with different focus of attention strategies on plantar flexor force and how this affects gait in apparently healthy older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Is there an acute effect of focus of attention on non-linear force variability and the subjacent neurophysiological mechanisms in apparently healthy young and older adults?
• Is there a training effect of focus of attention on non-linear force variability and does it transfer to non-linear gait variability as well as the respective subjacent neurophysiological mechanisms in apparently healthy older adults?

Researchers will compare two different external focus strategies with an internal focus to see if non-linear variability increases and subjacent neurophysiological mechanisms are more automized with an external focus of attention compared to an internal focus. In the acute study young adults are assessed as the differences between focus conditions are thought to be in the same direction as for older adults but attenuated.

Participants will carry out training and strength assessments of the calf muscles and walking on a treadmill.

Conditions

Healthy Aging; Healthy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Internal Focus Condition

In the internal focus condition the participant is instructed to realize seated calf raises by focusing on contracting the plantar-flexors. In clinical applications the internal focus is the most commonly used instruction. It is not possible to have a neutral focus condition, as participants always have to receive instructions and will always be focusing on something. Therefore, the internal focus condition is used as an active comparator.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Strength training with an internal focus of attention

Intervention Type: OTHER

A 4 weeks strength training program of seated calf raises with progressive overload is carried out. A supervisor applies force specific internal focus instruction in three sessions per week with at least 48h rest time. One session consists of 3 series until failure with 75%RM. Rest intervals between series are defined as 2 minutes.

Proprioceptive External Focus Condition

In the proprioceptive external focus condition the participant is instructed to realize seated calf raises by focusing on lifting the machine's bar.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Strength training with a proprioceptive external focus of attention

Intervention Type: OTHER

A 4 weeks strength training program of seated calf raises with progressive overload is carried out. A supervisor applies force specific proprioceptive external focus instruction in three sessions per week with at least 48h rest time. One session consists of 3 series until failure with 75%RM. Rest intervals between series are defined as 2 minutes.

Visual External Focus Condition

In the visual external focus condition the participant is instructed to realize seated calf raises by focusing on a line representing the displacement of the bar projected on a screen.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Strength training with a visual external focus of attention

Intervention Type: OTHER

A 4 weeks strength training program of seated calf raises with progressive overload is carried out. A supervisor applies force specific visual external focus instruction in three sessions per week with at least 48h rest time. One session consists of 3 series until failure with 75%RM. Rest intervals between series are defined as 2 minutes.

Interventions

Strength training with an internal focus of attention

A 4 weeks strength training program of seated calf raises with progressive overload is carried out. A supervisor applies force specific internal focus instruction in three sessions per week with at least 48h rest time. One session consists of 3 series until failure with 75%RM. Rest intervals between series are defined as 2 minutes.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Strength training with a proprioceptive external focus of attention

A 4 weeks strength training program of seated calf raises with progressive overload is carried out. A supervisor applies force specific proprioceptive external focus instruction in three sessions per week with at least 48h rest time. One session consists of 3 series until failure with 75%RM. Rest intervals between series are defined as 2 minutes.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Strength training with a visual external focus of attention

A 4 weeks strength training program of seated calf raises with progressive overload is carried out. A supervisor applies force specific visual external focus instruction in three sessions per week with at least 48h rest time. One session consists of 3 series until failure with 75%RM. Rest intervals between series are defined as 2 minutes.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

• Severe cardiovascular or pulmonary disease
• Oncological disease
• Lower limb disabilities
• Neurological disorders
• Inability to walk unassisted for 12 continuous minutes
• Cognitive impairment
• Falls in the prior 12 months
• Orthopedic concerns, which might limit force production
• Metal implants
• Medicine that can trigger side effects with TMS

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

Egas Moniz School of Health & Science

Monte de Caparica, Almada, Portugal

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Portugal

Central Contacts

Philipp Bauer, MSc

Role: CONTACT

117473@alunos.egasmoniz.edu.pt

1722831739 ext. +49

Joao Vaz, PhD

Role: CONTACT

jvaz@egasmoniz.edu.pt

967096444 ext. +351

Facility Contacts

Inês Gomes

Role: primary

egasmoniz@egasmoniz.edu.pt

Other Identifiers

1236- Fractal of attention

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id