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

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

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

Conditions
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Sedentary Healthy Young Individuals

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Exercise Trainig


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 25 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Training Group<br>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. | Other: Exercise Trainig<br>* 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<br>* Other names: Square-steeping exercise;|
| No Intervention: Control Group<br>This group has no intervention. Evaluations were only made at the start and at the end of 3-week long. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Attention Assessment (Stroop test) |  | 3 weeks | 
| Dynamic Balance Assessment (Four-step Square Test) |  | 3 weeks | 
| Motor Coordination Assessment (Lower extremity Motor Coordination Test) |  | 3 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Square-stepping exercise training, attention, dynamic balance, motor coordination