Focusing Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Some research has evaluated training utilizing either an internal or external focusing strategy. A small clinical study in male athletes shows that participating in an 8-week lower extremity training program with external focus improves hip abduction strength and hop distance, and decreases hip adduction and internal rotation, when compared with the same training program with internal focus, or with a control group not participating in the training. For sprint performance, a meta-analysis of 6 studies shows that an external focus is better than internal, although a subgroup analysis suggests the effects of an external focus may be greater for low-skill sprinters than high-skill. A large meta-analysis shows that an external focus improves learning and performance of athletic motor skills, when compared with an internal focus. In a subset of studies using electromyography, external focus was associated with more efficient neuromuscular processing.

A small clinical study in cancer patients shows that practicing focusing for 6 months decreases depression and improves attitude, but does not affect energy, activity level, or mortality. Clinical research in patients who have undergone breast cancer surgery shows that two phone sessions of Attentional Focus and Symptom Management Intervention (AFSMI) improves mood and reduces confusion, but does not have an effect on physical functioning, when compared with usual care.

A small clinical study in children ages 9-11 years shows that receiving instruction in internal or external focus in addition to standard training about basketball free throws does not impact motor learning when compared with receiving standard training alone.

Some research has evaluated physical training utilizing internal focus, external focus, or no specific focus. A small clinical study in recreationally active adults with knee pain persisting for at least 8 weeks shows that participating in a 6-week hip-knee strength training program with either an external or internal focus decreases pain and improves patient-reported motor function when compared with the same strength training program with no specific focus.

A small clinical study in children with intellectual disabilities shows that throwing a bean bag with an external focus on the bean bag improves motor learning when compared with an internal focus on the movement of the hand. It is not clear how either of these approaches compare with the use of no focusing techniques.

A small clinical study in healthy males shows that practicing internal focus on muscle contraction over 8 weeks produces greater muscle hypertrophy when compared with using an external focus on the outcome of the exercise. However, a meta-analysis of 10 studies shows that acutely, an external focus during resistance training improves muscle strength more than an internal focus. In the long-term, muscular strength gains from resistance training do not differ between the external and internal focus states, although subgroup analysis suggests a benefit for external focus during lower body exercises.

A small clinical trial in patients with Parkinson disease shows that receiving internal or external focus instruction during a 4-week balance training program does not improve balance or gait when compared with no intervention. Preliminary research in patients with Parkinson disease without gait freezing episodes, shows that an external focus improves walking automaticity, reduces step length variability, and improves performance of a secondary task while walking (keeping two interlocking rings from touching). However, in patients with Parkinson disease with gait freezing episodes, an internal focus reduces step length variability and strides per minute, increases gait stability, improves locomotion control and performance of a secondary task, and reduces falling risk and freezing episodes.

Preliminary clinical research in breast cancer patients shows that two days of alternative therapies including focusing and expressive writing, art, and movement result in improved well-being, body image, and quality of life when compared to baseline. The validity of these findings is limited by the lack of a comparator group. Additionally, it is not clear if these effects are due to focusing, the other interventions, or the combination.

A small clinical study in patients with social anxiety shows that participating in attention training for 6 weeks is comparable to 6 weeks of cognitive therapy for reducing symptoms measured by the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory. Other preliminary clinical research has compared the effects of internal and external focus on social anxiety. One preliminary clinical study in students with social anxiety and high blushing shows that practicing "self-focusing" increases anxiety when compared with "task-focusing". In students that were low-blushing, practicing "self-focusing" and "task-focusing" did not alter anxiety levels.

A small clinical study in patients with impaired movement following an ankle sprain shows that external focus training for 3 days improves ankle stability to a greater degree when compared with internal focus training. A follow-up study assessed whether focus training affects the process of transferring weight. Healthy volunteers with a sprained ankle participating in three external focus training sessions during 3 consecutive days had better stability when transferring weight when compared with internal focus training. It is not clear how either of these approaches compare with the use of no focusing techniques.

Limited research shows that different focusing practices may benefit patients recovering from stroke. Some clinical research shows that focusing on movement patterns rather than the accuracy of the movement may improve joint range, coordination, and function in patients recovering from stroke when compared to baseline. The validity of these findings is limited by the lack of a comparator group.