Effects of Square-stepping Exercise Training on the Attention, Dynamic Balance and Lower Extremity Motor Coordination

NCT ID: NCT04804475

Last Updated: 2025-06-03

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 112 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-09-10
• Study Completion Date: 2020-09-10

Brief Summary

Physical activity plays an indispensable role to lead a healthy life. Square-stepping exercises (SSE) are aerobic exercises. Our study was designed to investigate the effects of square-stepping exercise training on the attention, dynamic balance and lower extremity motor coordination of sedentary healthy young individuals.

A total of 112 volunteers within the age range of 20-25 participated in the research. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, as 56 participants were study group (28 females, 28 males) and 56 participants were control group (28 females, 28 males). Demographic data and exercise habit of the individuals were documented. Stroop Test was used to assess Attention, Four-step Square Test was used to assess Dynamic Balance and Lower-extremity Motor Coordination Test was used to assess Motor Coordination. Throughout 3 weeks SSE training was administered 4 days a week for a length of 45 minutes in each session. All the analyses were conducted at the start and at the end of 3-week long training.

Detailed Description

Demographic data and exercise habit of the individuals were documented. Stroop Test: The Stroop test measures cognitive functions such as cognitive flexibility, attention, inhibition, and reaction time. The test is administered by asking participants to name the colors of words written in different colors; they must focus on the colors of the words, not their meanings. Research has shown that age significantly affects processing speed and reaction time, especially in children aged 5-15 and adults aged 20-82.

Four-step Square Test: The subject is required to sequentially step over four canes set-up in a cross configuration on the ground. At the start of the test, the subject stands in Square 1 facing Square 2. The aim is to step as fast as possible into each square with both feet in the following sequence: Square 2, 3, 4, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1 (clockwise to counterclockwise).

Lower-extremity Motor Coordination Test was developed as an easy, yet effective tool to clinically assess, measure, and evaluate the deficits in Lower Limb Motor Coordination

Conditions

Sedentary Healthy Young Individuals

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Training Group

Throughout 3 weeks SSE training was administered 4 days a week for a length of 45 minutes in each session. All the analyses were conducted at the start and at the end of 3-week long training.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Exercise Trainig

Intervention Type: OTHER

SSE is performed on a thin exercise mat divided into 40 small squares in 250 cm x 100 cm of size (25 cm each part). Participants are given patterns of a few steps and asked to take steps that match them. Participants must, in principal, move ahead in line with the length forward with no contact on the lines forming the squares. Forward, backward, lateral and oblique stepping patterns are required. Stepping patterns get increasingly difficult. Each pattern consists of 2 to 16 steps; participants are asked to repeat step pattern till the end of exercise mat. Upon completing a pattern, another pattern in the same mirror-image is repeated. In essence each pattern is reiterated for 3-5 times and next its mirror-image pattern is repeated but if participants face challenge in performing the pattern it is repeated till the pattern is learnt

Control Group

This group has no intervention. Evaluations were only made at the start and at the end of 3-week long.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Exercise Trainig

SSE is performed on a thin exercise mat divided into 40 small squares in 250 cm x 100 cm of size (25 cm each part). Participants are given patterns of a few steps and asked to take steps that match them. Participants must, in principal, move ahead in line with the length forward with no contact on the lines forming the squares. Forward, backward, lateral and oblique stepping patterns are required. Stepping patterns get increasingly difficult. Each pattern consists of 2 to 16 steps; participants are asked to repeat step pattern till the end of exercise mat. Upon completing a pattern, another pattern in the same mirror-image is repeated. In essence each pattern is reiterated for 3-5 times and next its mirror-image pattern is repeated but if participants face challenge in performing the pattern it is repeated till the pattern is learnt

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Square-steeping exercise

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Being within the age range of 20-25,
• Not continuing any exercise program for the last 1 year,
• Not having any disease impacting neurological, orthopedic or lower extremity system,
• Not having surgery history on lower extremity,
• Not having visual and hearing problem.

Exclusion Criteria

• Having visual and hearing problem,
• Neurological problem debilitating one's walking,
• Having psychiatric or orthopedic problem
• Having surgery history on lower extremity.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 20 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 25 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Pamukkale University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Gulsum Tikac

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Gulsum Tikac

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Pamukkale University

Ayse Unal

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Pamukkale University

Filiz Altug

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Pamukkale University

Locations

Pamukkale University

Denizli, , Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Other Identifiers

Effect of SSE Training

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id