The Effect of Executive Cognitive Distraction on Sustaining a Volitional Preemptive Abdominal Contraction During a Unipedal Functional Movement in Healthy Participants.

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OBJECTIVE: The use of an abdominal contraction is a therapeutic maneuver to help stabilize the spine. It is unknown if executive cognitive distraction (ECD or "Stroop effect") influences a participant's ability to perform an abdominal contraction in a unipedal functional situation. The purpose was to determine the effect executive cognitive distraction has on abdominal bracing maneuver (ABM) execution in healthy participants while performing a unipedal functional task.

DESIGN: Repeated measure cohort design.

METHODS: Thirty healthy individuals, ranging 20-41 years were recruited from a local university to participate. Participants used an ABM to volitionally stabilize the spine or No-ABM, with and without ECD, while performing the Y-Balance Test (YBT). Surface electromyography (EMG) on participants' moving and stance side lower extremity (LE) internal obliques (IO) and external obliques (EO) while performing YBT in the anterior (ANT), posteromedial (PM), and posterolateral (PL) directions. Surface EMG was reported as a percentage of the participants' maximum voluntary muscle amplitude. Stroop incorporated an established ECD auditory program whereby masculine and feminine terms were discerned and participants responded by motion of their fingers. A 2 (ABM) X 2 (ECD) repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) tested for significant interactions and main effects during each YBT direction.

RESULTS: The participants' age mean was x= 27.2 yrs, with ± 5.1 years SD, 18 females and 12 males. A main effect for ABM strategy in all YBT directions, where both IO and EO muscle amplitudes were significantly greater during the Yes-ABM condition (p<0.001). Also, a main effect for Stroop in the PM YBT direction, where the mean reach distance was significantly greater during the No-ECD condition (p=0.006).

CONCLUSION: Healthy participants were able to perform a ABM during an LE reaching task, even when cognitively distracted. However, distraction did affect PM reach distances. The findings indicate participants should be able to use an ABM while performing unipedal activities that incorporate dynamic balance. Future research is required to determine the effect cognitive distraction has during an athletic or activity of daily living.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.