Abstract
[Purpose] To determine the motor learning effect of a combination of verbal instructions incorporating internal focus of attention (IFA) with knowledge of performance (KP) on postural optimization training using functional reach (FR). [Subjects] Twenty-three able-bodied university students (16 females, 7 males; mean age, 19.5 ± 0.5 years) who volunteered to participate in this study were randomly assigned to the IFA group or the control group. [Methods] Horizontal distance between the lateral malleolus and the fingertip (FR distance) and the location of the center of gravity were measured at before, and 1 day and 1 week after the completion of the intervention. After the initial measurement, participants performed 10 daily FR trials on 5 consecutive days (practice phase) and the IFA group received verbal instructions and knowledge of performance (KP). The FR distance was measured after all trials. [Results] The main effect of days of experience on FR distance was significant (p < 0.001). However, the main effect of group on FR distance was not significant. The IFA group tended to perform better during the first half of a practice day with the lapse of a practice phase. [Conclusions] A high level of similarity between IFA instruction and KP might influence the learning effect. Furthermore, IFA instruction may have an effect on trainability by immediately showing the best performance.
