The Effect of Attention Focus Instructions on the Coordination Variability of Gait Pattern in Educable Girls with Intellectual Disabilities

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

Abstract

Purpose:
Changes in gait patterns and asymmetry in the gait cycle parameters of people with intellectual disabilities increase the risk of falling, reduce motor efficiency, and also increase coordination variability. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of different types of attentional focus on the coordination variability of lower body segments in educable girls with intellectual disabilities.
Methods:
The study was an applied and quasi-experimental study. The statistical population consisted of 10–13-year-old girls with educable intellectual disabilities. . Twenty three subjects were selected through convenience sampling to participate in the study. Inertia sensors attached to the lower limbs (pelvis, thigh, leg, and foot) were used to investigate the kinematics of gait movement under different attentional instruction conditions [control (Ctrl), internal attention (IA), close external attention (CEA), and far external attention conditions (FEA)]. Coordination variability (CV) was calculated using the angle-angle method of two adjacent limbs and the standard deviation index. Data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance.
Results:
The results showed that there was no significant difference between the CV of the Hip-Thigh segment during gait in different attention instruction conditions (Ctrl, 32.05 ± 9.71; IA, 32.75 ± 8.60; CEA, 32.94 ± 8.70; FEA, 34.00 ± 6.10) (p≥0.05), however, the CV of the Thigh-Leg segments (Ctrl, 7.25±1.33; IA, 7.37±1.40; CEA, 7.43±2.33; FEA, 7.80±2.26) and Leg -Ankle segment (Ctrl, 17.00±2.90; IA, 17.45±5.70; CEA, 18.73±3.67; FEA, 19.31±5.90) in the far external attention instruction condition was lower than in the internal attention condition (p≤0.05).
Conclusion:
Based on the results, far external attention can be effective in rehabilitation programs for girls with intellectual disabilities and help improve their CV.

Keywords

Journal of Paramedical Sciences & Rehabilitation
Volume 14, Issue 3
November 2025

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