The effects of motivational self-talk on postural threat-induced changes in emotions, attention focus, and static and dynamic balance control

The effects of fear of falling on balance control have been investigated through manipulating support surface height (i.e., height-induced postural threat) which has consistently led to maladaptive emotional and postural responses. Motivational self-talk (ST) has successfully improved athletes' performance and reduced anxiety in sports. Given its limited use and inconsistent results in balance research, it is unknown whether engaging in motivational ST will mitigate the maladaptive responses observed with height-induced postural threat. Thirty-eight healthy young adults were randomized to two groups (motivational and neutral ST). Participants stood on a forceplate at the edge of a hydraulic platform, and completed quiet stance and rise to toes tasks at low height (0.8 m) and high heights of 3.2 m (quiet stance) and 1.6 m (rise to toes). At each height, participants performed two 120 s quiet stance trials (one with/without speaking) and ten rise to toes trials (five with/without speaking). During each trial, center of pressure was calculated from the forceplate, along with bilateral tibialis anterior and soleus muscle activity, and electrodermal activity (a measure of physiological arousal). Participants also completed state questionnaires to assess their emotional states during each trial. There were robust height-induced responses observed for both tasks with regards to emotional, autonomic, and balance control measures. Engaging in motivational ST during the quiet stance task at high compared to low heights led to a significantly smaller increase in postural sway frequency. Speaking (whether motivational or neutral ST) during the quiet stance task led to smaller increases in directing attention toward self-regulatory strategies at height. No significant interaction effects between height and ST were observed for the rise to toes task. This thesis study was the first study that combined engaging in motivational ST with height-induced postural threat for quiet stance and rise to toes tasks. Engaging in motivational ST had a limited effect on attenuating the maladaptive responses observed with height-induced postural threat; however, motivational ST is still a powerful tool which may be successful at improving balance control for older adults, various clinical populations, or under conditions of milder postural threat.