Use of the OPTIMAL Theory of Motor Learning With the Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test

Balance Clinical Trial

Official title:

Use of the OPTIMAL Theory of Motor Learning With the Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05113797
• Other study ID #: 21-009316
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: November 13, 2021
• Est. completion date: March 1, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: August 2022
• Source: Mayo Clinic
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Assessing and improving movement quality are important components of rehabilitation. The Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test (YBT-LQ) is a balance test used to assess dynamic balance in healthy adults, athletes, and those who are rehabilitating a lower extremity injury. Performing the YBT-LQ requires utilization of different strategies. It is unknown how different practice conditions will affect dynamic balance learning or performance on YBT-LQ. This study aims to compare the influence of OPTIMAL motor learning practice with standard practice conditions on YBT-LQ measurements.

Description:

The Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test (YBT-LQ) is used to assess dynamic balance and functional symmetry in healthy adults, athletes, and those who are rehabilitating a lower extremity injury, and has good to excellent interrater reliability. Performing the YBT-LQ requires utilization of different neuromotor and postural control strategies in each direction of the test. The OPTIMAL theory of motor learning is a theoretical framework that has been shown to improve motor performance through three main components: promotion of autonomy support (AS), presence of an external focus (EF) of attention, and implementation of enhanced expectancies (EE) placed upon a task. These components of the OPTIMAL theory of motor learning have been demonstrated to enhance balance learning in several populations. There is also extensive literature on the effects of the individual components of the OPTIMAL theory of motor learning and some evidence that demonstrates the beneficial effects of the combined components on motor learning. However, to the authors knowledge, literature has not been published upon the effect of all three components of the OPTIMAL theory of motor learning on dynamic balance learning. Therefore, the purpose of this study is intended to determine if the OPTIMAL theory of motor learning will influence performance on the YBT-LQ.

Healthy participants aged 18 to 65 will be recruited for participation through word-of-mouth advertising. Inclusion criteria will include a passing score of >35 degrees bilateral ankle dorsiflexion and an ability to balance on one leg. Upon signing the informed consent document from participants, height, weight, BMI, gender, age, and limb length will be recorded for data analysis. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: an OPTIMAL motor learning group or a control group. The intended experimental design will be a multigroup nonequivalent pretest-posttest control group for this study. Participants will attend two study visits separated by 2-14 days. A visit one baseline YBT-LQ pretest will be administered in a standardized fashion the same for both groups. During visit two, the OPTIMAL group will practice the YBT-LQ using OPTIMAL principles, while the control group practices the YBT-LQ using standard principles, then both groups will undergo a posttest YBT-LQ measurement. Primary outcome measures will be normalized composite scores of the YBT-LQ. Secondary outcome measures will be participant self-reported measures of perceived competence, task effort, level of autonomy, and externally focused attention during the task on a 0 to 10 Likert scale.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 57
• Est. completion date: March 1, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: March 1, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 65 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy participants

• Having the ability to safely stand on one leg and pass the ankle dorsiflexion clearing test (> 35 degrees ankle dorsiflexion).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of a recent lower extremity injury in the last month that limits their ability to stand on one leg.

• Failure to achieve 35 degrees of bilateral dorsiflexion on the dorsiflexion clearing test.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Balance

Intervention

Diagnostic Test:
• Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test
Dynamic balance assessment performed in a standing position while balanced on one leg, participants are asked to move a plastic box with their other foot in three directions (forward, back to the left, and back to the right) and a distance measurement is recorded. Each leg will be tested three times in each direction for the YBT-LQ assessment.

Behavioral:
• OPTIMAL motor learning theory
OPTIMAL theoretical framework instructions and coaching will be utilized to improve motor performance through three main components: promotion of autonomy support (AS), presence of an external focus (EF) of attention, and implementation of enhanced expectancies (EE) placed upon a task.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Darren Calley	Rochester	Minnesota

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Mayo Clinic

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change in composite YBT-LQ scores	Measure by 3 reach trials in 3 directions on each leg recorded to the nearest 0.5 cm. Composite score calculated by the sum of three directions for one leg divided by three times limb length, multiplied by 100	Baseline, 14 days
Secondary	Perceived competence	Measured using a self-reported Likert scale that rates their level of agreement to the statement, "I had the ability and understanding to move the box as far as possible in all three directions (anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral)" on a scale of 0=strongly disagree, 5=neutral, and 10=strongly agree	14 days
Secondary	Task Effort	Measured using a self-reported Likert scale that rates their level of agreement to the statement, "I tried very hard on this balance test" on a scale of 0=strongly disagree, 5=neutral, and 10=strongly agree	14 days
Secondary	Level of autonomy	Measured using a self-reported Likert scale that rates their level of agreement to the statement, "I felt in control of my ability to perform well on the Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test" on a scale of 0=strongly disagree, 5=neutral, and 10=strongly agree	14 days
Secondary	Externally focused attention during the task	Measured using a self-reported Likert scale that rates their level of agreement to the statement, "I focused on the target more than myself pushing the box during the test" on a scale of 0=strongly disagree, 5=neutral, and 10=strongly agree	14 days

External Links

•   Mayo Clinic Clinical Trials