Optimal Training for Movement Acquisition and Transfer: Does "Externally Focused" Visual Biofeedback Promote Implicit...

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Motor Learning
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Visual biofeedback is recognized for enhancing injury-resistant movement in adolescent athletes.
• It's theorized to promote implicit learning through external focus on movement outcomes.
• However, visual biofeedback might also trigger explicit learning via internal focus on movement execution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify implicit versus explicit motor learning in athletes using visual biofeedback.
• To analyze athlete-reported learning strategies during a neuromuscular training intervention.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study involving 25 adolescent female soccer players.
• A 6-week neuromuscular training program incorporating visual biofeedback sessions.
• Athletes responded to open-ended questions post-session, with responses categorized by focus (external, internal, mixed).

Main Results:

• Most categorized responses (41.8%) indicated an external focus, suggesting implicit learning.
• A significant proportion of responses also showed mixed (38.8%) and internal (19.4%) focus, indicating explicit learning.
• The frequency of external focus statements increased from 18% at week 1 to 50% by week 6.

Conclusions:

• While visual biofeedback primarily encourages implicit learning, a notable portion of athletes engage in explicit motor learning.
• This suggests biofeedback interventions may leverage both implicit and explicit learning pathways.
• Explicit learning appears more prevalent in early training stages.