Effects of Age and Attentional Focus on the Performance and Coordination of the Sit-to-Stand Task

Abstract

This study investigated whether age and attentional focus affect synergy organization of sit-to-stand (STS). Young and older adults performed STS while holding a cup under internal (IF) and external focus (EF) instructions. Uncontrolled manifold analysis was used to decompose trial-to-trial variability in joint kinematics into variability that preserves (V_UCM) and interferes (V_ORT) with the horizontal and vertical positions of the center of mass (CoM) and cup. V_UCM was significantly higher than V_ORT for all variables in both age groups and focus conditions. Older adults demonstrated higher V_UCM for all variables and higher V_ORT for all variables except the vertical position of the cup. IF instructions benefited older adults, leading to decreased V_ORT of the vertical position of CoM and horizontal and vertical positions of the cup.

Keywords:

• sit-to-stand
• attentional focus
• aging
• uncontrolled manifold

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, VA, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP 2021/05823-1), and the British Academy (Newton Advanced Fellowship, 140050).