Effect of Normative Feedback on Balance Control and Consistency of Muscle Function with Variable Task Difficulty

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 Master of Science in Motor Behavior, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor in Motor Behavior, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The previous research on normative feedback regarding balance control has only focused on psychological indices, and physiological information on the mechanisms of normative feedback on performance in difficult tasks (those involving visual and proprioceptive sensory disturbance), especially balance tasks, is scarce. Thus, the present study was conducted to determine the effects of normative feedback on balance control and the consistency of muscle function during tasks of variable difficulty levels among novice individuals.
Materials and Methods: The present study followed a sub-experimental and laboratory based design. A total of 20 participants (mean age = 23.59, SD = 1.30 years) were randomly assigned to positive normative feedback and control groups. The experimental group participated in 160 acquisition trials (16 blocks of 10 trials each) over 4 consecutive days (40 per day). A post-test was performed after the last practice session. Participants in the positive normative feedback group received better information of their own average performance in each block of acquisition. Postural control indices and electrical activity of muscles were measured using the Biodex system and electromyography techniques using Megawin devices, respectively. Mixed ANOVA with repeated measures and covariance tests were run to evaluate between-group differences in the balance index and electromyographic findings.
Results: The positive normative feedback group (M = 1.45 ± 0.31) outperformed the control group (M = 5.97 ± 1.24) in terms of the balance index (P = 0.004) and muscle consistency of the rectus femoris (P = 0.007) and gluteus medius (P = 0.04) while performing tasks of various difficulty levels.
Conclusion: As a psychological placebo, positive normative feedback acts as functional motivation to directly influence physiological changes in the level of balance control and consistency of muscle function when individuals perform difficult tasks.

Keywords

References

  1. Shumway-Cook Anne,Marjorie H. Woollacott. [Motor control: theory and practical applications]. Baltimore MD: Williams & Wilkins.2007.##
  2. Woollacott M, Shumway-Cook A. [Attention and the control of posture and gait: a review of an emerging area of research]. Gait Posture.2002; 16: 1-14.##
  3. Murillo DB, Solana RS, Vera-Garcia FJ, Fuertes NG. [Effect of increasing Difficulty in standing balance tasks with visual feedback on postural sway and EMG: Complexity and performance]. HUM MOVEMENT SCI.2012;31(5): 1224-1237.##
  4. Nagy E, Toth K, Janositz G, Kovacs G, Feher-Kiss A, Angyan L, Horvath G. [Postural control in athletes participating in an ironman triathlon]. Eur J Appl Physiol.2004; 92: 407–413.##
  5. Schmidt RA, Lee TD. [Motor Control and Learning: A behavioral emphasis] (5th ed). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.2011.##
  6. Chiviacowsky S, Wulf G. [Feedback after good trials enhances learning]. Res Q Exercise Sport.2007; 78: 40-47.##
  7. Hutchinson JC, Sherman T, Martinovic N, Tenenbaum G. [The effect of manipulated self-efficacy on perceived and sustained effort]. J Appl Sport Psychol..2008; 20: 457-472.##
  8. Lewthwaite R, Wulf G. [Social-comparative feedback affects motor skill learning].Q J Exp Psychol.2010b; 1: 1-12.##
  9. Wulf G, Chiviacowsky S, Lewthwaite R. [Altering mindset can enhance motor learning in older adults]. Psychol Aging.2012; 27: 14-21.##
  10. Wulf G, Chiviacowsky S, Lewthwaite R.[Normative feedback effects on learning a timing task]. Res Q Exercise Sport.2010; 81: 425-431.##
  11. Ávila LTG, Chiviacowsky S, Wulf G, Lewthwaite R. [Positive social comparative feedback enhances motor learning in children]. Psychol Sport Exercise. 2012; 13: 849-853.##
  12. Stoate I, Wulf G, Lewthwaite R. [Enhanced expectancies improve movement efficiency in runners]. J Sport Sci. 2012; 30: 815-823.##
  13. Ashrafpoor Navaee S, Abedanzadeh R, SaemiE. [The Effect of Normative Feedback on Beginner Students’ Intrinsic Motivation in Performance of Postural Stability]. Sport Psychology Studies 2015; 11: 15 – 26. [Persian]##
  14. AshrafpoorNavaeeS, Farsi AR, Abdoli B.Effect of normative feedback on balance control in variable levels of task difficulty. Journal of sport management and Action behavior, In press. [in Persian]##
  15. Abercrombie, Andrew FJ. [Neuromuscular and biodynamic responses to whole body vibration training]. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Houston, Houston 2006;1794-1800.##
  16. salsabili, H., Bahrpeyma, F., Forogh, B., & Rajabi, s. [Dynamic stability training improves standing Balance control in neuropathic patients with type 2 diabetes. journal of rehabilitation research and development] 2011; 48(7): 775- 786.##
  17. Lederman, E. [Neuromuscular Rehabilitation in Manual and Physical Therapies: Principles to Practice]. 1st ed. London: Elsevier 2010.##
  18. Wulf G. [Motor Learning and Control: Changing our view of motor learners: From information processors to human beings]. J Sport Exercise Psy, 2014; 36: 1-5.##

 

 

The Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Volume 6, Issue 1
March and April 2017
Pages 43-52

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 30 November 2015
  • Revise Date: 05 April 2016
  • Accept Date: 16 April 2016
  • First Publish Date: 21 March 2017

Share

How to cite

Statistics