title: Enhanced jump performance when providing augmented feedback compared to an external or internal focus of attention.
abstract: Factors such as an external focus of attention (EF) and augmented feedback (AF) have been shown to improve performance. However, the efficacy of providing AF to enhance motor performance has never been compared with the effects of an EF or an internal focus of attention (IF). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify which of the three conditions (AF, EF or IF) leads to the highest performance in a countermovement jump (CMJ). Nineteen volunteers performed 12 series of 8 maximum CMJs. Changes in jump height between conditions and within the series were analysed. Jump heights differed between conditions (P < 0.001), resulting in best performance with AF (32.04 ± 7.11 cm), followed by EF (31.21 ± 6.67 cm) and IF (30.77 ± 6.87 cm). Significantly different (P < 0.001) within-series effects of higher jump heights at the end of the series in AF (+1.60%) and lower jump heights at the end of the series in EF (-1.79%) and IF (-1.68%) were observed. Muscle activity did not differ between conditions. The differences between conditions and within the series provide evidence that AF leads to higher performance and better progression within one series than EF and IF. Consequently, AF seems to outperform EF and IF when maximising jump height.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medicine, Movement and Sport Science , University of Fribourg , Fribourg , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Benedikt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lauber
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gottschalk
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Taube
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D059385:Plyometric Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: countermovement jump; ground reaction force; jump height; muscle activity