Parisa Amoorezaie, Elahe Arabameri, Shahrzad Tahmasebi Boroujeni,
Volume 2, Issue 2 (5-2020)
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the combination of attention (external focus) and internal motivation (autonomy support and enhanced expectancies) on learning the skill of throwing darts.
Methods: For this purpose, 60 women participated in the study. our study included 4 groups: a) autonomy support - external focus (AS-EF); b) enhanced expectancies - external focus (EE-EF); C) enhanced expectancies - autonomy support (EE-AS); and d) enhanced expectancies - autonomy support - external focus (EE-AS-EF). Participants were asked to throw darts at a target with their non-dominant arm. In the EE conditions, they received (false) positive social-comparative feedback. In the AS conditions, they were allowed to throw 5 of 10 trials in each block with their dominant arm chosen by them. In the EF conditions, participants were asked to focus on the target. on the post-test after the end of the training period and retention and transfer test 24 hours after practice, the AS-EE-EF group had the highest accuracy scores and outperformed all other groups.
Results: The results of the between-group comparison for throwing accuracy showed that the EE-AS-EF group was a significant difference compared to the other groups.
Conclusions: The findings provide evidence that enhanced expectancies, autonomy support, and an external focus can contribute in an additive style to optimize motor performance and learning.
Mehrshad Mehrdadian, Esmaeel Saemi, Georgian Badicu, Mohammadreza Doustan, Tomofumi Yamaguchi,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (5-2023)
Abstract
Background:Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has recently drawn attention as an inexpensive, painless, safe, and effective technique to improve motor performance and cognitive function in older adults. This study examined the effects of a selected balance exercise combined with anodal tDCS on balance performance in older adults. Methods: Twenty-four healthy older adults (Mean age±SD= 69.79±5.50 years) participated in this study. The participants were randomly assigned into a real tDCS or sham tDCS groups. The participants in the real tDCS group received 2 mA anodal tDCS over the left primary motor cortex (M1) for 20 min while in the sham group they received a sham tDCS for the same duration. The participants performed a selected balance exercise program for 50 min following tDCS. Training was conducted 2 sessions per week for 8 weeks (16 sessions). Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG) and working memory test (2-back task) were measured before (baseline), after 8 weeks of the training, and 4 weeks of follow-up. Results: Compared to sham tDCS group, BBS and TUG were significantly improved in real tDCS group after the training and 4 weeks of follow-up, however, this intervention could not affect working memory. Conclousion: In summary, these results indicate that the selected balance exercise program combined with anodal tDCS can improve balance performance but not working memory in older adults.
Seyedehomme Eiman Razavi, Mohammad Hossein Alizadeh, Somayeh Namdar Tajari,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (5-2023)
Abstract
Background: This study compared the effect of training programs with and without virtual reality (VR) on the motor and cognitive performance of women with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Methods: It was a Quasi-experimental study with two experimental groups (17 participants in each group) and a control group (15 participants). Participants have Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and were 20 to 40 years old, and living in Amol City. There were three groups: the experimental group exercised with VR (T+VR), the experimental group exercised without VR (T), and the control group didn't have any exercise intervention. The exercise intervention was carried out for eight weeks (twice a week) including five stages: warming up the body, walking on a treadmill, resting, soccer goalkeeping, and cooling down. The tools used for pre-test and post-test measurement were: Expanded Disability Status Scale Borg Rating of the Perceived Exertion, timed 25-Foot Walk Test, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, Fatigue Severity Scale, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale Questionnaire, Mini-Mental State Examination test, Tower of London test. Analysis of covariance and Bonferroni pairwise comparison was used for data analysis. Results: The results showed that the eight-week exercise program with and without VR effectively increased static and dynamic balance and improved the mental state of women with MS (P<0.05), But no significant difference was observed between the two groups in comparison to the control group. Also, the training program with and without VR affected improving walking speed, reducing the intensity of fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression, and increasing the problem-solving ability of women with multiple sclerosis (P<0.05). This effectiveness in the T+VR group was more than in the T group. Conclousion: Performing sports training with and without VR has a significant effect on the motor and cognitive performance of women with multiple sclerosis, but training with VR can be a motivating and effective alternative for the motor and cognitive rehabilitation of women with multiple sclerosis.
