Kinetics, Kinematics, and Fixed Postures: An Exploration of How Attentional Focus Manipulation Enhances Movement.

There is debate in the literature regarding how manipulating the focus of attention (FOA) influences ground reaction forces during the standing long jump (SLJ) and gaps in understanding as to which phases of the SLJ are affected (takeoff, flight, and landing) and whether FOA manipulation benefits remain when tasks are performed in fixed body postures. This study compared SLJ performance under external (EXT) and internal (INT) FOA conditions with free and fixed postures. Twenty participants performed SLJs under EXT and INT FOA conditions while being allowed to swing arms freely and having to keep hands on their hips.