Clinical trial NCT06941714: Cognitive Load Effects on Balance and Postural Stability in Young Adults
Official title: Evaluating the Effects of Cognitive Load on Postural Stability and Balance Recovery Mechanisms in Younger Adults
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Balance
Cognitive Load
Keywords: Performance
Lead sponsor: Riphah International University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-04-24
Enrollment: 80
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 30
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Intervention model description: Research
Primary purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

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.

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.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Centre of Pressure
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Centre of Pressure (2nd reading)
timeFrame: Periprocedural
measure: Centre of Pressure (3rd reading)
timeFrame: Periprocedural
measure: Centre of Pressure (4rth reading)
timeFrame: Periprocedural
measure: Postural Sway
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Postural Sway (2nd reading)
timeFrame: Periprocedural
measure: Postural Sway (3rd reading)
timeFrame: Periprocedural
measure: Postural Sway (4rth reading)
timeFrame: Periprocedural
measure: Balance Recovery
timeFrame: Periprocedural
measure: Balance Recovery (2nd reading)
timeFrame: Periprocedural
measure: Heart Rate Variability
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Heart Rate Variability (2nd reading)
timeFrame: Periprocedural
measure: Heart Rate Variability (3rd reading)
timeFrame: Periprocedural
measure: Heart Rate Variability (4rth reading)
timeFrame: Periprocedural
measure: Galvanic Skin Response
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Galvanic Skin Response (2nd reading)
timeFrame: Periprocedural
measure: Galvanic Skin Response (3rd reading)
timeFrame: Periprocedural
measure: Galvanic Skin Response (4rth reading)
timeFrame: Periprocedural
measure: NASA Task Load Index
timeFrame: after static balance with cognitive loading
measure: NASA Task Load Index (2nd reading)
timeFrame: after perturbation with cognitive loading.
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Islamabad
country: Pakistan
facility: Riphah International University
Study officials:
affiliation: Riphah International University
name: Imran Amjad, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: