Research Article
Makoto Hiyamizu, Yuko Yoshida,
Abstract
Purpose: This study investigates the effect of presenting the target as an intrinsic reward on the physical performance of healthy subjects. Methods: Fifteen healthy people (62.9 ± 11.6 years old, mean ± standard deviation; 6 females and 9 males) were enrolled in this study. The task for physical performance was the Functional Reach Test, and participants performed the pre- and post-test. Participants were assigned randomly to a Control group, a High Target group (HT group) or Low Target group (LT group). In the control group, participants received feedback about each result and encouragement. In the HT group, participants received feedback about each result and were presented a target score that increased the result by 20%. In the LT group, participants received feedback about each result and were presented the target score that decreased the result by 20%. Results: The main effect of group was no significance (p=0.88). The main effect of time was significant (p=0.011). The group × time interaction was no significance (p=0.13). The post hoc test that compared the pre-test and post-test within each group was significant only in the HT group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this preliminary study indicate that physical performance in healthy people improved by presenting a set target, as well as feedback of the result. In particular, the results showed that a high target slightly beyond each result was more desirable than a low target. Together, our results suggest that the presentation of a set target as an intrinsic reward may improve physical performance and motivation.