Attentional Focus Instructions and Conscious Movement Processing in Older Adults

NCT05411536 | Active Not Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: 15601021
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 106
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to provide a novel scientific contribution through addressing critical knowledge gaps, examining the effects of attentional focus instructions on real-time (state) conscious movement processing propensity, gait parameters, and muscle efficiency in older adults in Hong Kong at risk of falling while walking in a challenging environment. The study results could update our scientific understanding of the mechanisms of conscious movement processing and the interventional effects of attentional focus instructions in older adults. It could ultimately enhance the methodology used for developing the most appropriate psychomotor gait re-education intervention in rehabilitation and provide clear guidelines on the exact attentional focus training that older adults require. Further, it could mitigate the effect of conscious movement processing and risk of falling in older adults.

Conditions

Fall Injury; Walking, Difficulty; Gait, Unsteady

Keywords

Attentional focus instructions; Conscious movement processing; Walking; Muscle efficiency; Gait parameters

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Real-time (state) conscious movement processing propensity

  It will be measured by the Alpha2 EEG T3-Fz coherence.

  Day 0

• Gait speed

  It will be measured by the 3-D motion-capture system in the unit of meter per second (m/s).

  Day 0

• Body sway

  It will be measured by the 3-D motion-capture system in the unit of millimeter (mm).

  Day 0

• Stride length

  It will be measured by the 3-D motion-capture system in the unit of meter (m).

  Day 0

• Stride-to-stride variability

  It will be measured by the 3-D motion-capture system by the coefficients of variation (CV).

  Day 0

• Muscle efficiency

  It will be measured by the surface electromyography (EMG).

  Day 0

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Walking ability

  Day 0

• Balance ability

  Day 0

• Fear of falling

  Day 0

• Trait conscious movement processing propensity

  Day 0

Study Arms (2)

high reinvestor group (HRG)

The participants were divided into two groups, the high reinvestor group (HRG) and the low reinvestor group (LRG), using the conventional median split of their scores on the MSRS-C (Chu \& Wong, 2019; Mak et al., 2020).

Other: Walking trials

low reinvestor group (LRG)

The participants were divided into two groups, the high reinvestor group (HRG) and the low reinvestor group (LRG), using the conventional median split of their scores on the MSRS-C (Chu \& Wong, 2019; Mak et al., 2020).

Other: Walking trials

Interventions

Walking trials OTHER

All participants will complete a series of walking trials. They will first be requested to perform three practice walks followed by three walking trials on a 7.4m straight level-ground firm walkway (GW) and the other three walking trials on a 7.4m straight foam walkway (FW) in a randomised order. The dimension of the foam walkway in the FW will be 8m (length), 0.8m (width), and 0.3m (height). The starting and finishing lines of the FW will be positioned at 0.3m from each side of the FW's edges. Thus, the lengths of the FW and the GW will be identical (i.e., 7.4m). Participants will be asked to walk 7.4m and stop for each walking trial. After a 10-minute rest break, participants will perform nine walking trials on the GW and the other nine walking trials on the FW, including three repetitions of three different attentional focus instructions (external focus \[EF\], internal focus \[IF\], and no specific focus \[NF\]) in the GW and FW in a randomised order.

high reinvestor group (HRG); low reinvestor group (LRG)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years - 99 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Older adults (N = 106) will be recruited from different collaborating community elderly and rehabilitation centres in Hong Kong through convenience sampling. Potential participants will be screened for eligibility by the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

You may qualify if:

• age 65 or above;
• able to walk independently indoor for at least 20 metres without a walking aid.

You may not qualify if:

• a total score of less than 24 on the MMSE-C (Chiu et al., 1994; Folstein et al., 1975);
• the presence of any untreated cerebral vascular disease, Parkinson's disease, or any other major neurological deficit;
• the presence of an unstable medical condition affecting safety while walking ;
• a history of a major fall incident within the last year;
• a static visual acuity poorer than 20/40 vision (assessed using the Tumbling E eye chart).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: lead

Study Sites (1)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hong Kong, China

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Mak TCT, Ng SSM, Leung MCY, Wong TWL. Stress-Induced Responses in Conscious Movement Processing and Walking Behaviour in Older Adults. Stress Health. 2025 Jun;41(3):e70065. doi: 10.1002/smi.70065.

  PMID: 40522681 DERIVED

• Mak TCT, Ng SSM, Chan DCL, Wong TWL. The Influence of Attentional Focus on Gait Stability and Conscious Movement Processing During Challenging Walking Conditions in Older Adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2025 May 8;80(6):gbaf059. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbaf059.

  PMID: 40117215 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Mobility Limitation; Gait Disorders, Neurologic

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases

Study Officials

• Thomson Wong, PhD

  The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 1, 2022
• First Posted: June 9, 2022
• Study Start: July 15, 2022
• Primary Completion: June 30, 2024
• Study Completion: June 30, 2024
• Last Updated: February 29, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-02

Locations

CN (1)