The Influence of Juggling on Selected Cognitive Functions and Postural Stability Variables.

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of the study is to verify the effect of juggling exercises on selected cognitive functions (reaction time, attention) and postural stability variabilities (based on center of pressure signal) in two different protocols: [1] a randomised crossover study design, [2] a randomised repeated measurement design.

Detailed Description
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Juggling is a form of exercise, that can engage humans, both cognitively and physically. One of the positive aspects of taking up this form of exercise is the growing evidence indicating that juggling improves the well-being of exercisers. Most importantly, the juggling intervention causes an increase in the volume of the gray matter and white matter in the human brain, and thus shows potential for neuroplasticity. In addition, unhealthy aging is observed nowadays, which causes both physical and cognitive decline in daily functioning, further interfering with the elderly's ability to perform daily activities. Therefore, the addition of juggling exercises may have a positive effect on the changes that occur with aging. However, currently there are hardly any data on the juggling effect on cognitive functions and on postural stability. Therefore, the study aims to examine the effect of juggling exercises on selected cognitive functions and postural stability variables in two different randomised trials.

Official Title
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The Effect of Juggling Training on Some Cognitive Functions and Coordination Abilities in Older People.

Conditions
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Aging, Cognitive Change

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Addition of juggling


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: physically active over 65 years old with no injuries of pathologies involving the upper limb without neurological issues with no significant visual impairments Exclusion Criteria: mixed or left-handedness sedentary lifestyle prior experience in juggling under or above the required age contraindications to physical activity

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years
Maximum Age: 75 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: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Addition of juggling<br>Group taking part in juggling exercise protocol in a crossover regimen. | Other: Addition of juggling<br>* Participants will not change ther daily activities, and participate in juggling intervention lasted 4 weeks and consisted of 12 meetings (3 trainings per week), each lasting 45 minutes.<br>|
| No Intervention: Without addition of juggling<br>Group not taking part in juggling exercise protocol in a crossover regimen. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Velocity of center of pressure assessed with AMTI force plate | Postural stability variable based on center of pressure signal. Velocity of center of pressure will be presented in centimeters per seconds. | Assessment of the velocity of center of pressure will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Area 95 percentile assessed with AMTI force plate | Postural stability variable based on center of pressure signal. Area 95 percentile will be presented in square centimetres. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Medio-lateral range of sway assessed with AMTI force plate | Postural stability variable based on center of pressure signal. Medio-lateral range of sway will be presented in centimeters. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Anterior-posterior range of sway assessed with AMTI force plate | Postural stability variable based on center of pressure signal. Anterior-posterior range of sway will be presented in centimeters. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Effective value of medio-lateral velocity assessed with AMTI force plate | Postural stability variable based on center of pressure signal. Effective value of medio-lateral velocity of sway will be presented in centimeters per seconds. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Effective value of anterior-posterior velocity assessed with AMTI force plate | Postural stability variable based on center of pressure signal. Effective value of anterior-posterior velocity of sway will be presented in centimeters per seconds. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Absolute error of elbow joint position accuracy assessed with electrogoniometers | Proprioception ability. Measured in degrees of flexion. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Variable error of elbow joint position accuracy assessed with electrogoniometers | Proprioception ability. Measured in degrees of flexion. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Constant error of elbow joint position accuracy assessed with electrogoniometers | Proprioception ability. Measured in degrees of flexion. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Root mean square error of elbow joint position accuracy assessed with electrogoniometers | Proprioception ability. Measured in degrees of flexion. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Simple reaction time assessed with reaction time test in Vienna Test System | Selected cognitive function - simple reaction time (one visual stimulus, reaction to one visual stimulus) measured in milliseconds. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Complex reaction time assessed with reaction time test in Vienna Test System | Selected cognitive function - choice reaction time (two visual stimuli, reaction to one visual stimulus) measured in milliseconds. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Decision time assessed with reaction time test in Vienna Test System | Selected cognitive function - decision time (difference between complex reaction time and simple reaction time variables) measured in milliseconds. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Motor time assessed with reaction time test in Vienna Test System | Selected cognitive function - motor reaction time (time of movement during both simple and complex reaction time tests) measured in milliseconds. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Time of correct rejections assessed with cognitrone test in Vienna Test System | Selected cognitive function - one variable of attention measured in seconds. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Time of correct acceptance assessed with cognitrone test in Vienna Test System | Selected cognitive function - one variable of attention measured in seconds. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Number of correct acceptance assessed with cognitrone test in Vienna Test System | Selected cognitive function - one variable of attention measured in unity values. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Duration of test assessed with cognitrone test in Vienna Test System | Selected cognitive function - one variable of attention measured in seconds. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points. | 
| Physical activity level assessed with a CHAMPS questionnaire | Assesment of physical activity level with a CHAMPS questionnaire. Results presented as frequency of total physical activity and caloric expenditure per week. | Assessment will be carried out up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of two time points. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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cognitive functions, postural stability, proprioception, elderly