Table 1. Example exercise modifications incorporating Neurocognitive and Ecological Challenges.
| Exercise | Neurocognitive load |
Strategic (no / low uncertainty in task-environment) |
Tactical (manipulation of uncertainty in the task-environment) |
Reactive (uncontrolled uncertainty in the task-environment) |
Instruction / feedback to improve knee flexion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single leg balance | Lower order: 1visual attention,2processing speed, 3reaction time, 4decision making, 5dual tasking. Higher order: 6inhibitory control, 7working memory |
1) Maintain balance while moving your arms sideways, forward, backward, up, together or alternating. 2) Swing your leg forward, backward, sideways. 3) Perform single leg squats, while moving your arms.2,5 |
1) Toss a ball against a wall with a self-chosen speed, height, direction, and catch it with two hands or one hand. 2) Perform single leg squats while tossing. 3) While tossing, attend to visual cues from a board, cards, screen, or hand signals to engage in counting or arithmetic or word games or identification. 4) If visual display is unavailable, count down from 100 with subtractions of 7 or multiply by 3 starting from 2.1,2,5 |
Perform tossing a ball with a partner. Your partner chooses the speed, height and direction of the ball. 1) When ball is in the air your partner calls ‘1’ of ‘2’ or ‘left’ or ‘right’ to indicate how you will catch the ball.1,3–5 2) Your partner calls different numbers, such as 1 or 2, and you perform a simple action as quickly as possible, such as clapping or snapping before catching the ball, according to the number that you hear. Switch legs and cues regularly. To make it harder, use numbers or arithmetic that are more complex.1,3–5 3) Your partner holds a red and green ball. When you see the red ball, you do perform a single leg squat, when you see the green ball, you just hold balance.1,3,5,6 4) Your partner calls or displays a series of numbers or signals, each number representing a certain task. You perform the tasks subsequently as quickly as possible.1,3–5,7 |
“While squatting, pretend you are going to sit on a chair.” |
| Instruction / feedback to reduce knee abduction | |||||
| “Pretend you have headlights in your knees and point them forward.” “Make sure the tip of your shoes point forward when you land.” |