What this means
This trial plans to test whether different focus instructions during calf strength training change how steady force and walking are. It has not reported results, so it does not yet show whether any focus style works better.
Plain-English summary written by an AI model from the registry listing.
- Status
- Recruiting
- Who can join
- Ages 18 and over
- Where
- 1 site
The science
- Registered title
- The Effect of Different Focus of Attention Instructions on Resistance Training and Its Transfer to Gait Parameters in Older Adults
- Trial ID
- NCT06538766 ↗
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Study type
- interventional
- Conditions
- Healthy Aging, Healthy
- What is tested
- Strength training with an internal focus of attention, Strength training with a proprioceptive external focus of attention, Strength training with a visual external focus of attention
- Sponsor
- Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL
- Ages
- 18 Years to no maximum
- Dates
- First posted Aug 6, 2024 · updated Sep 18, 2025
Registry summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the effects of strength training with different focus of attention strategies on plantar flexor force and how this affects gait in apparently healthy older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Is there an acute effect of focus of attention on non-linear force variability and the subjacent neurophysiological mechanisms in apparently healthy young and older adults?
- Is there a training effect of focus of attention on non-linear force variability and does it transfer to non-linear gait variability as well as the respective subjacent neurophysiological mechanisms in apparently healthy older adults?
Researchers will compare two different external focus strategies with an internal focus to see if non-linear variability increases and subjacent neurophysiological mechanisms are more automized with an external focus of attention compared to an internal focus. In the acute study young adults are assessed as the differences between focus conditions are thought to be in the same direction as for older adults but attenuated.
Participants will carry out training and strength assessments of the calf muscles and walking on a treadmill.
Sites (1)
- Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, Monte de Caparica, Almada, Portugal