The Impact of Visual Perturbation Neuromuscular Training on Landing Mechanics and Neural Activity: A Pilot Study.
Timothy R Wohl, Cody R Criss, Adam L Haggerty and 3 others
PMID 39502544WHAT IT FOUND
Eight female athletes with poor landing mechanics completed four hours of neuromuscular training while wearing glasses that flickered between clear and opaque.
Their landing error scores dropped by 1.5 points. Brain scans showed reduced activity in areas handling motor planning and spatial processing.
Key findings
01Landing error scores on the LESS assessment decreased by 1.5 points after the training intervention.
02Brain imaging showed reduced activity in two specific clusters related to visuospatial processing and motor planning following the intervention.
03Cognitive effort ratings increased significantly, while physical exertion and overall error counts remained stable despite progressively harder visual restrictions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study had no control group, so it is impossible to know if the improvements were due to the visual perturbation, the exercises themselves, or natural learning over time. The sample size was very small (n=8), and no formal statistical significance testing was performed. One participant was excluded from the brain imaging analysis due to movement, leaving only seven for that part of the data. The participants were all female recreational athletes with specific high-risk landing mechanics, so results may not apply to males, elite athletes, or those with normal mechanics. The LESS assessment involves a learning effect because participants practiced the jump-landing task multiple times, which could have influenced the post-intervention scores.
Declared interests
The authors declared no competing interests. The study was funded by the US Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health (NIAMS).
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the visual perturbation caused the improvements. Without a control group, the changes in landing mechanics and brain activity could simply reflect the effects of the neuromuscular exercises themselves or practice effects from repeated testing.