Effects of a Complex, Partnered Martial Arts-based Intervention on Cognitive Function

NCT ID: NCT04760054

Last Updated: 2022-08-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: TERMINATED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 32 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-03-24
• Study Completion Date: 2021-12-15

Brief Summary

The investigators' study is designed to test whether brief exposure to a martial arts-based intervention (a coordinative, partnered training exercise known as "Hubod"), can improve cognitive function to a greater degree than aerobic exercise of a similar intensity.

Detailed Description

This three-arm randomized controlled trial will compare the feasibility, and possibly the effects, of a martial arts intervention vs. aerobic exercise vs. an attentional (non-exercise) control condition. The martial arts intervention will consist of a partnered, coordinated sensitivity exercise drawn from south-east Asian martial arts, known as Hubod (also spelt hubud and hubad). Participants will be trained in the fundamental movements of Hubod. Participants will also have the history, cultural significance, risks and purpose of Hubod explained to them throughout the study.

The aerobic exercise comparator group will use a stationary bicycle to match the duration and exercise intensity of the martial arts intervention group, under the supervision of trained research assistants. Participants will also receive information on aerobic exercise and the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 2020.

Participants in the Videos Control group will watch educational videos on martial arts, physical fitness and exercise for the same duration as the intervention and exercise comparison groups. All participants, regardless of group, will be assessed for martial arts and exercise experience once at baseline.

All participants will be tested for cognitive performance change. Baseline and follow-up computerized cognitive testing will take place at a specified testing facility and psychosocial questionnaires will be delivered remotely via a Qualtrics-powered survey. After baseline testing, participants will attend 5 sessions, approximately 30 minutes each. Follow-up testing will be administered more than 48 hours post-intervention to minimize established acute adaptive responses to exercise.

The investigators hypothesize the martial arts training intervention group will exhibit a greater increase in performance of cognitive tasks when compared less complex movement patterns involved in the aerobic exercise group or videos control group.

Conditions

Cognitive Change; Processing, Visual Spatial; Inhibition (Psychology); Working Memory

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

HUBOD martial arts practice

Participants will be trained in the Hubod exercise over 5 separate training sessions. Sessions will last approximately 30 minutes, involving a warm up, review of material from the previous session and the learning of the next movement in the HUBOD sequence. Heartrate will be monitored periodically to make sure the intensity of exercise is consistent with mild to moderate cardiovascular exercise as in the active comparator.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

HUBOD

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the intervention group will attend 5 separate training sessions instructing them in Hubod. The Hubod exercise is a partnered coordination drill involving moves derived from numerous martial arts, most often seen in the Filipino martial art of Kali. Participants will aim to reach a level of comfort and competency in the basic, non-competitive aspects of the Hubod exercise by the end of their participation in this intervention.

Active Comparator - Stationary Bicycle

Participants will be given 5 separate sessions, each approximating 30 minutes in duration, of mild to moderate intensity cardiovascular training on a stationary bicycle. Heartrate will be monitored periodically to make sure the intensity of exercise is consistent with mild to moderate exercise as in the Experimental group.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Active Comparator

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the active comparator group will attend 5 separate training sessions. Each session will involve a 5 minute warmup of joint mobilization exercises and mild pedaling on the bicycle before the main effort of continuously using the bicycle for approximately 20 minutes. The session finishes with a 5 minute cooldown period and light stretch. Heartrate will be monitored regularly in order to prevent this exercise exceeding the relative intensity of the Martial Arts intervention group. Participants will be allowed to talk and interact with research assistants in order to keep socialization effects consistent across groups.

Attentional Control Group

Participants will be given 5 separate sessions, each approximating 30 minutes in duration, of watching videos on martial arts training methods and techniques. These sessions will be completely sedentary.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Control Condition

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this group will attend 5 separate training sessions. Each session will involve watching educational videos on martial arts techniques and training methods from a sedentary position. Participants will be allowed to talk and interact with research assistants in order to keep socialization effects consistent across groups.

Interventions

HUBOD

Participants in the intervention group will attend 5 separate training sessions instructing them in Hubod. The Hubod exercise is a partnered coordination drill involving moves derived from numerous martial arts, most often seen in the Filipino martial art of Kali. Participants will aim to reach a level of comfort and competency in the basic, non-competitive aspects of the Hubod exercise by the end of their participation in this intervention.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Active Comparator

Participants in the active comparator group will attend 5 separate training sessions. Each session will involve a 5 minute warmup of joint mobilization exercises and mild pedaling on the bicycle before the main effort of continuously using the bicycle for approximately 20 minutes. The session finishes with a 5 minute cooldown period and light stretch. Heartrate will be monitored regularly in order to prevent this exercise exceeding the relative intensity of the Martial Arts intervention group. Participants will be allowed to talk and interact with research assistants in order to keep socialization effects consistent across groups.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Control Condition

Participants in this group will attend 5 separate training sessions. Each session will involve watching educational videos on martial arts techniques and training methods from a sedentary position. Participants will be allowed to talk and interact with research assistants in order to keep socialization effects consistent across groups.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

Martial Arts Experimental Exercise Group; Hubod Training Group; Exercise Comparison Group; Stationary Bike Group

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Men and Women between the ages of 18-45 years who are low active

Exclusion Criteria

• Anyone who is physically active (≥30 minutes, 3 or more times/week, for the last 3 months) and/or a regular practitioner of martial arts and/or highly complex coordination drills such as dance performance or contact improvisation (≥30 minutes, 3 or more times/week, for the last 3 months).
• Anyone with serious chronic medical conditions that would preclude them from participating without a physician present, or anyone with a risk of seizure, or anyone having psychiatric and/or neurological disorders.
• Pregnant women.
• Anyone incapable of performing the following movements at a moderate intensity- sitting, standing, kicking, pulling, pushing, bending one's elbows or bending one's knees.
• Anyone who scores 1 or more on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
• Anyone refusing or unwilling to be randomized into either of the conditions.
• Anyone who cannot commit to both 45 minute testing sessions or the five 30-minute training sessions.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 45 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Sean Mullen

Associate Professor Sean Mullen

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Sean P Mullen, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Locations

Exercise, Technology, and Cognition Laboratory - Louise Freer Hall 284

Urbana, Illinois, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

21174

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id