Cognitive Load Effects on Balance and Postural Stability in Young Adults

NCT ID: NCT06941714

Last Updated: 2025-04-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 80 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-04-23
• Study Completion Date: 2025-07-30

Brief Summary

• The aim is to determine the impact of cognitive load on balance recovery mechanisms following perturbations in young adults.
• To evaluate how secondary task is influenced by cognitive load and vice versa.
• To compare the impact of cognitive load on balance recovery mechanisms following perturbations in male and female young adults.
• This study interrelates the cognitive load, postural stability, balance recovery in the result of perturbation and effects on participants.

Detailed Description

Maintaining balance is an important skill that requires coordination and is crucial for human beings. The Central Nervous System (CNS) plays an important role in maintaining balance, postural stability, and postural correction in response to sudden perturbation. The subcortical brain region contributes to balance maintenance and postural stability is regulated by the cerebral cortex. Balance is defined as the "Body's ability to keep its center of gravity within the base of support either standing or walking". On a regular basis people encounter perturbations (traveling on a bus while standing) that challenge balance, to overcome unexpected perturbations there must be activation of postural muscles to maintain the center of gravity within the base of support and prevent fall. Individuals mostly use ankle strategy or hip strategy to recover from perturbation and prevent fall. Anticipatory postural adjustment is a critical component of postural stability. recently cognition and postural control have received attention, there are studies that claim that dual-task design has been used to show the relation between posture and cognitive functioning. In the dual-task paradigm two tasks are performed simultaneously to divert the attention of an individual to an external source (counting backward etc.) while performing another task. Divided attention is commonly required in daily life while performing dual tasking and multitasking activities, if attention is not properly divided among task it will results in decline in performance which causes impairment of balance and fall.To prevent this, balance must be recovered from perturbation. The purpose is to assess effect of cognitive loading and recovery from perturbations along with balance maintenance and fulfillment of research gap that study should be performed with multiple methods of cognitive loading. That's why different methods for cognitive loading are used in current study which shows that how varying levels of cognitive load influence postural stability and balance in dual-task conditions. This research can help in rehabilitation programs in which specific interventional designs and treatment protocols are made to improve balance under the influence of cognitive load. Provide awareness to people on a societal level to improve their balance and posture maintenance under a mental workload.

Conditions

Balance; Cognitive Load

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
• Blinding Strategy: TRIPLE

Study Groups

Baseline Balance Assessment

All participants who fall in the eligibility criteria will stand on force plates to check the static balance.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Static Balance along with Cognitive Loading

All participants who fall in the eligibility criteria will stand on force plates to check static balance and undergo two different types of cognitive loading

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Working Memory Task

Intervention Type: OTHER

Arithmetic test (Backward counting with serial 3 subtraction and articulation): participants are asked to count out loud backward with serial subtraction of 3 from each number, starting with a random number provided by the researcher. while participants are standing on force plates. During all this process cognitive loading will be measured through Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR).

Visual and Verbal Fluency Task

Intervention Type: OTHER

Modified Stroop test or Stroop color word test: Participants are asked to name the color of ink that each word is printed. The test will appear on screen while participants are standing on force plates. During all this process cognitive loading will be measured through Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR).

Perturbation

All participants who fall in the eligibility criteria will stand on force plate and perturbation is given to check balance recovery.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Perturbation

Intervention Type: OTHER

Jack is attached to force plates and it is used to give perturbation when participants are standing on force platform. Balance is assessed after perturbation and readings will be taken through HRV and GSR.

Perturbation along with Cognitive Loading

All participants who fall in the eligibility criteria will stand on force plate and perturbation is given to check balance recovery and undergo two different types of cognitive loading.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Perturbation

Intervention Type: OTHER

Jack is attached to force plates and it is used to give perturbation when participants are standing on force platform. Balance is assessed after perturbation and readings will be taken through HRV and GSR.

Working Memory Task

Intervention Type: OTHER

Arithmetic test (Backward counting with serial 3 subtraction and articulation): participants are asked to count out loud backward with serial subtraction of 3 from each number, starting with a random number provided by the researcher. while participants are standing on force plates. During all this process cognitive loading will be measured through Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR).

Visual and Verbal Fluency Task

Intervention Type: OTHER

Modified Stroop test or Stroop color word test: Participants are asked to name the color of ink that each word is printed. The test will appear on screen while participants are standing on force plates. During all this process cognitive loading will be measured through Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR).

Interventions

Perturbation

Jack is attached to force plates and it is used to give perturbation when participants are standing on force platform. Balance is assessed after perturbation and readings will be taken through HRV and GSR.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Working Memory Task

Arithmetic test (Backward counting with serial 3 subtraction and articulation): participants are asked to count out loud backward with serial subtraction of 3 from each number, starting with a random number provided by the researcher. while participants are standing on force plates. During all this process cognitive loading will be measured through Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR).

Intervention Type: OTHER

Visual and Verbal Fluency Task

Modified Stroop test or Stroop color word test: Participants are asked to name the color of ink that each word is printed. The test will appear on screen while participants are standing on force plates. During all this process cognitive loading will be measured through Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Galvanic Skin Response (GSR).

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Participants between age of 18 to 30 (university Students)
• Sufficient physical function to stand independently.
• Self-reported independent ambulation.
• Participant willingness to participate.

Exclusion Criteria

• History of neurological or vestibular disorders.
• Self-reported presence of musculoskeletal condition.
• Disorders of spine, pelvic girdle and lower limb.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 30 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Riphah International University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Imran Amjad, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Riphah International University

Locations

Riphah International University

Islamabad, , Pakistan

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Pakistan

Central Contacts

IMRAN AMJAD

Role: CONTACT

imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk

03324390125

Facility Contacts

Imran Amjad

Role: primary

imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk

03324390125

Other Identifiers

REC/02023 Imran Amjad

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id