Comparison of the Effects of External Focus and Internal Focus Instructions Applied Chronic Low Back Pain: RCT
Condition: Physical Therapy Techniques
MeSH terms: Back Pain; Low Back Pain
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Postural control methods are impaired in people with chronic low back pain. While the person
      maintains balance with pain relief, fear of movement and pain increase with loss of balance.
      It was found that externally focused exercises are more effective than internal focus
      exercises in terms of motor control and motor learning. To investigate the place of
      externally focused balance exercises in conservative treatment of target low back pain. For
      this purpose, approval was obtained from the clinical research ethics committee of Kırşehir
      Ahi Evran University, Faculty of Medicine, with the decision numbered 2022-18/163.
    

Detailed description: 
      Focusing on the inside of the body while performing a movement is called "internal (internal
      focus)", focusing on the outside of the body is called "external (external focus)". Many
      previous studies have shown that external focus is substantially more effective than internal
      focus in the performance of a movement.In our randomized controlled study, there were two
      groups and 22 people were treated in each group. Volunteers between the ages of 18-65 who had
      low back pain for the last 3 months and had no musculoskeletal problems were included.
      Balances were evaluated with Biodex Balance Device, pain with Visual Analog Scale,
      performance with Physical Performance Test Battery, functional level with osvewstry
      disability index, posture, spinal mobility,postural endurance with spinal mouse device. 8
      weeks of treatment were applied to both groups as external focus and control groups.
      Basically similar exercises were applied to both groups, and there were tasks in the
      exercises in the external focus group, and the focus were on the task other than the
      exercise.

      The results of the study show that externally focused balance exercises are effective on
      dynamic balance, fall risk, stability limits, physical performance, posture, spinal mobility,
      and postural endurance in individuals with CLBP.
    

Intervention name(s): external focus task focus in addition to physiotherapy and rehabilitation exercises; internal focus task focus in addition to physiotherapy and rehabilitation exercises
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): The first study on the external focus was made in 1998 by Wulf, Ho ¨ß, & Prinz, (1998). Focusing on the inside of the body while performing a movement is called "internal (internal focus)", focusing on the outside of the body is called "external (external focus)". Previous studies have shown that external focus is substantially more effective than internal focus in the performance of a movement.; he first study on the external focus was made in 1998 by Wulf, Ho ¨ß, & Prinz, (1998). Focusing on the inside of the body while performing a movement is called "internal (internal focus)", focusing on the outside of the body is called "external (external focus)". Previous studies have shown that external focus is substantially more effective than internal focus in the performance of a movement.
Other intervention name(s): ext focus; internal focus
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: 2 groups will be formed using the random randomization model
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Physical Therapy; low back pain,; external focus