title: Effects of visual feedback absence on force control during isometric contraction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the force control in the complete absence of visual feedback and the effect of repeated contractions without visual feedback.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve physically active males (age 23 ± 1 years; stature 1.74 ± 0.07 m; body mass 71 ± 6 kg) performed isometric tasks at 20, 40 and 60% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) for 20 s. For each intensity, a trial with force visual feedback (FB) was followed by 3 trials without FB (noFB-1, noFB-2, noFB-3). During contraction, force and surface electromyogram (EMG) from the vastus lateralis muscle were recorded. From force signal, the coefficient of variation (CV, force stability index), the distance of force from target (ΔF, force accuracy index) and the time within the target (t-target) were determined. From EMG signal, the root mean square (RMS) and mean frequency (MF) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MVC was 679.14 ± 38.22 N. In noFB-1, CV was similar to FB, ΔF was higher and t-target lower (P < 0.05) than in FB. EMG-RMS in noFB-1 was lower than in FB at 40 and 60%MVC (P < 0.05). A decrease in ΔF between noFB-1 and noFB-3 (P < 0.05) and an increase in t-target from noFB-1 to noFB-3 (P < 0.05) occurred at 20% MVC. A difference in EMG-RMS among noFB conditions was retrieved only at 60% MVC (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the complete absence of visual feedback decreased force accuracy but did not affect force stability. Moreover, the repetition of noFB trials improved force accuracy at low exercise intensity, suggesting that real-time visual information could be obviated by other feedbacks for force control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via G. Colombo 71, 20133, Milan, Italy, eloisa.limonta@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Eloisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Limonta
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rampichini
authors.forename: Emiliano
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cè
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esposito
mesh_terms: D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D014796:Visual Perception; D055815:Young Adult