Comparison of the effects of external focus of attention with metaphor and internal focus of attention on temporal changes in seating pressure during sitting motion in community-dwelling elderly people

Abstract

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the optimal method of attention focus in which temporal changes in the seating pressure can induce effective sitting motion in order to prevent osteoporotic vertebral fractures in the elderly. [Participants and Methods] This study included 101 community-dwelling elderly people. The participants were seated in a chair with a force plate under two conditions: external focus of attention with metaphor and internal focus of attention. We evaluated and analyzed the seating pressure by using the force plate and the sitting motion with a three-dimensional motion capture system. The unit time sitting pressure value and the trunk forward tilt angle were calculated and compared between the two conditions. [Results] The unit time sitting pressure value was significantly smaller in the external condition than the internal condition. The trunk forward tilt angle was significantly greater in the internal condition than the external condition. [Conclusion] This study demonstrated that external focus of attention with metaphor can induce a sitting motion with a slower temporal change in sitting pressure than the internal focus of attention. We concluded that external focus of attention with metaphor may be an effective instruction to prevent osteoporotic vertebral fractures in the elderly.