Examining the Influence of Attentional Focus on the Effects of a Neuromuscular Training Program in Male Athletes

Ghanati, HA, Letafatkar, A, Almonroeder, TG, and Rabiei, P. Examining the influence of attentional focus on the effects of a neuromuscular training program in male athletes. J Strength Cond Res 36(6): 1568-1575, 2022-Neuromuscular training programs that incorporate lower extremity strengthening, plyometric exercises, balance training, and movement retraining are recommended for anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention; however, there is a need to improve their effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to examine how athletes' attentional focus during training influences the effects of an 8-week neuromuscular training program on hip strength, single-leg landing mechanics, and hop performance. Sixty-six male athletes were randomly allocated to a group that trained with an internal focus, a group that trained with an external focus, or a control group. All athletes completed testing before (baseline) and after (posttesting) the 8-week period. Isokinetic hip strength, hip and knee kinematics and ground reaction forces during landing, and hop distance were examined as part of this study. Analysis of covariance was used to compare posttesting outcomes among the groups while accounting for group differences in baseline performance. The neuromuscular training program resulted in improved hip abduction strength, reduced hip adduction and internal rotation motion during landing, and increased hop distance for athletes who trained with an external focus. However, the program did not seem to influence hip strength, landing kinematics, or hop performance for athletes who trained with an internal focus. Our findings indicate that male athletes may benefit from completing a neuromuscular training program with an external focus vs. an internal focus. Trainers, coaches, and clinicians should consider using instructions that promote an external focus when implementing neuromuscular training programs with male athletes.