Effects of Attentional Focus on Hop Distance and Knee Flexion After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction : A cross-sectional study

Sammanfattning

Background: Attentional focus has been shown to be a central factor influencing how movements are performed. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most common injuries among young, physically active individuals and can lead to reduced function and performance capacity. Several studies have demonstrated that an external focus may promote more automatic and efficient movement patterns, whereas an internal focus may constrain movement efficiency. The aim of this study was to investigate whether instructions involving external, internal, and neutral attentional focus influence hop-distance and knee flexion during a single-leg hop test. Method: Seven individuals with ACL reconstruction (ACLR) and seven healthy controls, aged 17-35 and with a score of ≥ 6 on the Tegner activity scale were included. Participants performed three hops on each leg, with external,internal and neutral instructions. Data was collected using a motion capture system and force plates, and the analysis using Qualisys track manager and Visual3D program. Statistical analysis was performed in Jamovi. Result: Attentional focus significantly affected hop distance (p=0.005) and maximum knee flexion (p<0.01). Neutral focus showed higher hop distance and lower knee flexion compared to internal and external focus. No significant differences were found between groups, legs, or interaction effects Conclusion: Attentional focus may have an influence on knee flexion and hop distance. Neutral focus increases the hop length and decreases the knee flexion. Further research is needed with a bigger sample size.