Attentional Focus Influence During Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test

July 7, 2019 updated by: Francisco Xavier de Araujo, Pt, Federal University of Health Science of Porto Alegre
The purpose of this study is to termine if a different attentional focus would alter the motor control in cervical muscles during the cranio-cervical test.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Asymptomatic subjects will be recruited to this study. Superficial electromyography of the Sternocleidomastoid, Range of Motion (ROM) and Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test (CCFT) will be measured before, immediately after change in focus of attention, 2 days after training under a particular focus of attention, and 7 days after training the task under the same focus of attention.

Subjects will be randomized into three groups: Internal focus of attention, external focus of attention and control group.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

90

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • RS
      • Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, 90160240
        • Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 60 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Asymptomatic subjects

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Cervical pain
  • Historic of trauma/surgery to the cervical or thoracic spine or upper limbs
  • Temporomandibular pain
  • Neurological or systemic disorder

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Internal Focus of Attention
30 subjects will be randomized to this arm. Only internal focus of attention feedback instructions will be given during the execution and training performing the Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test. The subjects allocated to this arm will not be allowed to use the visual feedback traditionally provided during the Cranio-cervical Flexion Test.
Information already included in arm/group descriptions.
Other Names:
  • Internal Focus
Experimental: External Focus of Attention
30 subjects will be randomized to this arm. Only external focus of attention feedback instructions will be given during the execution and training performing the Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test. The subjects allocated to this arm will not be allowed to use the visual feedback traditionally provided during the Cranio-cervical Flexion Test. In addition, they will use just a laser point attached to the head to guide their cranio-cervical flexion.
Information already included in arm/group descriptions.
Other Names:
  • External Focus
Active Comparator: Control
30 subjects will be randomized to this arm. The participants allocated to this arm will be instructed as traditionally during the Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test. They will be given visual feedback while have their attention guided to the inner neck movement.
Information already included in arm/group descriptions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from baseline in Electromyographic Activity of Sternocleidomastoid
Time Frame: Baseline, Immediately after baseline, Post-Training (2 days after the baseline), Retention (7 days after finished training)
The Electromyography (EMG) signal amplitude will be determined by the root mean square (RMS) value computed over intervals of 1 s during each 10-s contraction. RMS will be expressed as a percentage of the maximum RMS value during the reference voluntary contraction.
Baseline, Immediately after baseline, Post-Training (2 days after the baseline), Retention (7 days after finished training)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cranio-cervical Range of Motion
Time Frame: Baseline, Immediately after baseline, Post-Training (2 days after the baseline), Retention (7 days after finished training)
A neutral position and full range of active cranio-cervical flexion photograph will be taken using a digital camera. That camera will be positioned on a tripod horizontally parallel to the subject's head/neck region at a distance of 80 cm, anatomical markers positioned on the tragus of the ear, the mental protuberance of the mandible and the lateral aspect of the neck. Photos will be taken when the subject reached each level of the craniocervical flexion test. The Cranio-cervical Range of Motion will be expressed as relative percentage of degrees compared to the full range of motion.
Baseline, Immediately after baseline, Post-Training (2 days after the baseline), Retention (7 days after finished training)
Cranio-Cervical Flexion Test Performance
Time Frame: Baseline, Immediately after baseline, Post-Training (2 days after the baseline), Retention (7 days after finished training)
Subjects will instructed to reach each one of the five stages (22-30 mmHg) of the test and hold the pressure as steady as possible for 10s. The stage will be mark as successful if the participant reaches the stage level and hold steady the pressure during the 10-s contrition. However, the individuals that reaches the stage-aimed pressure but are unable to maintain the pressure stable during the 10s contraction or use compensating strategies will be marked as unsuccessful.
Baseline, Immediately after baseline, Post-Training (2 days after the baseline), Retention (7 days after finished training)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Study Director: Marcelo Faria, PhD, PT, Professor, Researcher

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 1, 2018

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2018

Study Completion (Actual)

April 1, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 1, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 12, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

June 25, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 9, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 7, 2019

Last Verified

July 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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