Date of Award
Spring 1-1-2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Integrative Physiology
First Advisor
David Sherwood
Second Advisor
Alaa Ahmed
Third Advisor
Alena Grabowski
Abstract
Focusing externally (outside the body) leads to better motor learning and performance than focusing internally (within the body), yet many coaches and other instructors still use internal cues to teach. This is the first study to use electromyography (EMG) to assess the distance effect, to examine the benefit of a focus of attention (FOA) beyond a target, and to test the constrained action hypothesis in a stationary, dynamic task. Novice and expert martial artists kicked a force bag while acceleration (for the experts only) and EMG was recorded using different verbally cued foci of attention. Force-accuracy (F-A) and cocontraction were significantly higher in the distal external focus condition than in the other conditions. There was a negative correlation between F-A and cocontraction and a positive correlation between peak X acceleration and F-A in the distal external focus condition, suggesting that cocontraction may be beneficial in some circumstances, but not others.
Recommended Citation
Roseman, Alyssa, "The Effect of Focus of Attention on Novice and Expert Martial Artists" (2017). Integrative Physiology Graduate Theses & Dissertations. 58.
https://scholar.colorado.edu/iphy_gradetds/58