###### Abstract  
_Background_: Movement feedback is used to promote anatomically correct movement patterns. Two primary forms of movement feedback exist: verbal cues and visual cues. There is ongoing debate regarding which type of feedback yields superior effects for learning desired movements. This study investigated how a combination of visual and verbal cues improved shoulder stability in four arm movements, Biceps Curls, Reverse Flys, Rowing, and Shoulder Extensions. _Methods_: Twelve participants were allocated to three different conditions and instructed to perform four different arm movements: Condition 1 (no specific instructions), Condition 2 (image only), and Condition 3 (verbal cues and image). Measurements of acromiodacuicular (AC) joint displacement, and electromyography (EMG) peak and burst duration were taken for each arm movement within each condition. _Results_: Condition 3 exhibited a significant reduction in AC displacement and prolonged EMG burst duration. Variations in EMG peak and burst duration across different arm movements were attributed to anticipated muscle activation specific to each movement. _Conclusions_: The combination of visual and verbal cues through the \"reConnect Your Dots\" movement language was found to improve scapular stabilization and associated muscle activation. This approach to movement patterns practice holds promise for injury rehabilitation and risk mitigation for future occurrences. visual feedback; verbal feedback; scapular stabilization; motor imagery +
Footnote †: journal: Medical  
baseball pitching, tennis serving, and vigorous exercise routines, it is essential to employ movement language that effectively conveys biomechanically sound movement patterns that include scapular stabilization (SS) [3]. Motor imagery (MI) is a significant form of movement language. It involves a cognitive process wherein an individual mentally rehearses or stimulates a specific motor action without actually physically performing it. This mental simulation engages similar neural networks and brain regions that are activated when the actual movement is performed [6]. Therefore, MI has been utilized for instructional coaching and has become a major contributor to the success of athletes [7]. One significant limitation encountered in MI is that the quality of the image(s), described by the instructor and/or imagined by the athlete, directly affects the quality of the movement learned [7,8]. This challenge may stem from inconsistencies or complexities in language used to build mental images [9]. For example, a basic squat movement can be described or instructed in numerous ways through the use of MI [10, 11, 12, 13]. Some instructors describe the muscles needed for execution, some describe body position such as knees and hips in relation to the feet, and some simply describe an image such as sitting back on a chair [14, 15, 16]. Therefore, to maximize the effectiveness of hands-on feedback, coaches and movement instructors continue to explore optimal verbal instructions, MI, or a combination, to cultivate proper technique and produce structurally sound, anatomically correct movements [6,8,10]. Regarding the learner's internal or external focus of attention during hands-on feedback, MI serves to create an internal focus of attention (IFA), while verbal cues provide an external focus of attention (EFA). IFA entails directing attention inward toward body parts and body position [17, 18, 19, 20, 21]. Previous research indicates that this type of focus enhances proprioceptive awareness [21,22], thereby contributing to improved motor learning [23]. In contrast, EFA directs performers to focus attention on the outcome of the movement rather than its individual movement elements, such as body positioning and specific movement components. The focus of this study was to test the impact of a movement language that combines IFA and EFA, known as \"reConnect Your Dots\", and to compare the effectiveness of using IFA solely versus the combination of IFA and EFA.