Does self-controlled timing of feedback improve movement execution? The role of autonomy in improving sidestep cutting technique in male ball sports players

Providing athletes with control during training can enhance motor skill acquisition, a strategy that may reduce anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk by improving movement quality. A possible strategy to improve sidestep cutting (SSC) technique is by offering the athlete autonomy via self-controlled timing of feedback. This study explored the effect of autonomy on lower extremity biomechanics. Thirty male ball sports players were alternately assigned to the self-control (SC) or yoked (YK) group. Participants completed the pre-test, training, and immediate post-test the first day. One week later, a retention test was conducted. During training, the SC group could determine when to receive feedback, whereas the YK group could not. Feedback consisted of SSC score, video feedback and an external focus verbal cue. Testing and training conditions consisted of anticipated and unanticipated 45° SSC tasks. Lower extremity kinematics and kinetics were captured using 3D infrared motion capture and force plates. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) on data from 22 participants (alpha = 0.025). The two-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that training itself, for the whole sample of both groups combined, improved SSC technique. Subsequent exploratory secondary analysis (SPM one-way ANOVA within each group) revealed that the SC group had an increased hip flexion angle and a reduced knee flexion moment and hip abduction angle at the retention test, compared to baseline on the anticipated SSC. These biomechanical changes are advantageous for reducing ACL injury risk. Suggesting that autonomy, through self-controlled timing of feedback, improves the uptake of feedback.