External Cues In Action: Strength and Power

Trainers and coaches know the importance of strength and power development. Traditionally, we try to identify optimum doses (reps and sets) and periodization schemes rather than consider the types of cues we are using. However, we now know that attentional focus can influence movement velocity, movement force, vertical-jump and horizontal-jump characteristics, just as you would expect programming variables to affect such things (Vance et al. 2004; Marchant, Greig & Scott 2009; Wulf & Dufek 2009; Porter et al. 2010a).

The first paper to look at the effects of attentional focus on a strength-based exercise evaluated integrated electromyography (iEMG) and movement velocity during a biceps curl (Vance et al. 2004). Results showed that directing an external focus on the curl bar produced significantly higher angular velocity at the elbow joint and lower total iEMG in the biceps and triceps than an internal focus on the biceps muscles.

Focusing on the implement being moved—rather than the process underpinning that movement—frees the motor system to organize in a way that maximizes efficiency (muscle recruitment) and performance (movement velocity). Conversely, focusing on the “muscles” involved in the desired movement forces the motor system to explicitly manage local muscle performance rather than global interand intra-muscular coordination.

In conclusion, internal cuing causes a reduction in neuromuscular efficiency through increased muscle co-contraction and reduced movement velocity. This regression in performance can be avoided through the task-relevant application of external cuing during strength-based exercises.

To read a more in-depth discussion about external and internal cues, please see “Attentional Focus & Cuing” in the online IDEA Library or in the May 2015 print issue of IDEA Fitness Journal. If you cannot access the full article and would like to, please contact the IDEA Inspired Service Team at (800) 999-4332, ext. 7.