Caparica

Kinesiophobia, an excessive fear of physical movement due to injury concerns, is common after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction ACLR and can reduce physical function, delay return to sport, and affect quality of life. Researchers are investigating how different ways of assessing this fear, including the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia TSK and task-specific fears triggered by visual or anticipated movement, compare in ACLR patients. The study aims to better understand fear of movement and its impact on motor behavior and autonomic nervous system responses in this group. Participants will experience three different treadmill walking conditions lasting 10 minutes each walking while visualizing neutral images, walking while visualizing images related to feared movements like cutting or jumping, and walking while anticipating performing a feared movement shown in a video with a jumping platform present. These conditions are designed to explore how fear influences movement and physiological responses. The study uses a randomized, double-blind design with these experimental exposures. During the study visit, participants will be assessed using motor behavior measures and autonomic nervous system markers such as heart rate variability, skin conductance, and blood pressure variability. Questionnaires evaluating physical function, fear-avoidance beliefs, anxiety, and avoidance behaviors will also be completed. Researchers will measure subjective fear feelings after each walking condition to explore relationships between fear and physical responses. The study participation occurs mostly on a single day with detailed monitoring during and after the interventions.

Researchers are investigating how different focus of attention strategies during strength training affect plantar flexor muscle force and walking patterns in healthy older adults. The study aims to understand both the immediate impact and the training effects of these focus strategies on muscle force variability, gait variability, and related brain mechanisms. Young adults are also assessed to compare focus effects across age groups. Participants will engage in a four-week strength training program performing seated calf raises under three different focus conditions internal focus, proprioceptive external focus, and visual external focus. Training occurs three times per week with sessions consisting of three sets until muscle failure at 75 of their maximum load, with two-minute rests between sets. Each focus condition involves specific instructions to guide participants attention during exercises. During the study, participants will be assessed weekly and at follow-up for changes in muscle force variability, gait variability, and brain excitability and inhibition using neurophysiological measures. Additional evaluations include muscle co-contraction, range of motion during gait, and toe clearance. The study includes supervised training sessions and detailed monitoring over six weeks to track progress and response to the training interventions.