The effects of different attentional focus on poststroke gait

• Published in: Journal of exercise rehabilitation Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 592 - 596
• Main Authors: Kim, Sun-Ae, Ryu, Young Uk, Shin, Hwa Kyung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Society of Exercise Rehabilitation 28.08.2019; 한국운동재활학회
• Subjects: Original; 심리과학; Hemiplegia; Stroke; Gait; Attention
• ISSN: 2288-176X; 2288-1778
• DOI: 10.12965/jer.1938360.180

Attention may influence the motor performance of poststroke patients. The attentional focus implies “where” attention is focused while per-forming a specific movement. Focusing attention on the inside of the body while performing a specific exercise is called an internal focus (IF) and focus on the external environment is called an external focus (EF). This study examined the effect of attention on the gait of patients with chronic stroke. Sixteen subjects voluntarily participated in the study. The subjects were guided to walk while maintaining the required atten-tional focus, which is control, IF, and EF condition. Dependent variables were as follows: step length, stride length, step width, 10-m walk time, and weight distribution on the paretic limb. The results are as follows. First, the step length and the stride length were observed to be longer in the EF condition. Second, 10-m walk time was faster in EF condition. Third, under the EF condition, more weight was applied to the paretic limb. We suggest that EF instruction useful to improve the poststroke gait.