title: The effects of attentional focus on jump performance and knee joint kinematics in patients after ACL reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an internal and external attentional focus on single leg hop jump distance and knee kinematics in patients after ACL reconstruction (ACLR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient physical therapy facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients after ACLR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients received either an instruction with an internal focus or an external focus before performing a single leg hop jump. The jump distance, knee valgus angle at initial contact, peak knee valgus angle, knee flexion angle at initial contact, peak knee flexion angle, total ROM and time to peak angles for the injured and non-injured legs were recorded. A repeated measures MANOVA was used to determine significance between the experimental conditions with the primary outcome measures as dependent variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The external focus group had significant larger knee flexion angles at initial contact, peak knee flexion, total ROM and time to peak knee flexion for the injured legs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the applicability of using an external focus during rehabilitation of patients after ACLR to enhance safer movement patterns compared to an internal focus of attention and subsequently may help to reduce second ACL injury risk.
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.gokeler@rug.nl.
authors.forename: Alli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gokeler
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands; School of Sport Studies, Hanze University Groningen, Zernikeplein 17, 9747 AS Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benjaminse
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Welling
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Malou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alferink
authors.affiliation: Flytta Physical Therapy, Center for Sports and Rehabilitation, Boumaboulevard 41, 9723 ZS Groningen, The Netherlands; FC Groningen, Professional Dutch Soccer Club, Boumaboulevard 41, 9723 ZS Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eppinga
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Human Movement Sciences, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Otten
mesh_terms: D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament; Attentional focus; Kinematics; Motor learning