Clinical trial NCT04760054: Effects of a Complex, Partnered Martial Arts-based Intervention on Cognitive Function
Official title: Effects of a Complex, Partnered Martial Arts-based Intervention on Cognitive Function in Comparison to Aerobic Exercise and Attention-control Among Low-active Adults
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: TERMINATED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Cognitive Change
Processing, Visual Spatial
Inhibition (Psychology)
Working Memory
Keywords: Cognitive Performance
Complex movement
Lead sponsor: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2021-02-18
Enrollment: 32
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 45
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Three groups: One intervention, One Exercise Comparison, One Attentional Control
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: The investigators' study is designed to test whether brief exposure to a martial arts-based intervention (a coordinative, partnered training exercise known as "Hubod"), can improve cognitive function to a greater degree than aerobic exercise of a similar intensity.

Detailed description: This three-arm randomized controlled trial will compare the feasibility, and possibly the effects, of a martial arts intervention vs. aerobic exercise vs. an attentional (non-exercise) control condition. The martial arts intervention will consist of a partnered, coordinated sensitivity exercise drawn from south-east Asian martial arts, known as Hubod (also spelt hubud and hubad). Participants will be trained in the fundamental movements of Hubod. Participants will also have the history, cultural significance, risks and purpose of Hubod explained to them throughout the study.

The aerobic exercise comparator group will use a stationary bicycle to match the duration and exercise intensity of the martial arts intervention group, under the supervision of trained research assistants. Participants will also receive information on aerobic exercise and the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 2020.

Participants in the Videos Control group will watch educational videos on martial arts, physical fitness and exercise for the same duration as the intervention and exercise comparison groups. All participants, regardless of group, will be assessed for martial arts and exercise experience once at baseline.

All participants will be tested for cognitive performance change. Baseline and follow-up computerized cognitive testing will take place at a specified testing facility and psychosocial questionnaires will be delivered remotely via a Qualtrics-powered survey. After baseline testing, participants will attend 5 sessions, approximately 30 minutes each. Follow-up testing will be administered more than 48 hours post-intervention to minimize established acute adaptive responses to exercise.

The investigators hypothesize the martial arts training intervention group will exhibit a greater increase in performance of cognitive tasks when compared less complex movement patterns involved in the aerobic exercise group or videos control group.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

- Men and Women between the ages of 18-45 years who are low active

Exclusion Criteria:

* Anyone who is physically active (≥30 minutes, 3 or more times/week, for the last 3 months) and/or a regular practitioner of martial arts and/or highly complex coordination drills such as dance performance or contact improvisation (≥30 minutes, 3 or more times/week, for the last 3 months).
* Anyone with serious chronic medical conditions that would preclude them from participating without a physician present, or anyone with a risk of seizure, or anyone having psychiatric and/or neurological disorders.
* Pregnant women.
* Anyone incapable of performing the following movements at a moderate intensity- sitting, standing, kicking, pulling, pushing, bending one's elbows or bending one's knees.
* Anyone who scores 1 or more on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
* Anyone refusing or unwilling to be randomized into either of the conditions.
* Anyone who cannot commit to both 45 minute testing sessions or the five 30-minute training sessions.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Digit Symbol Substitution task
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.
measure: n-2back memory task
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Matrix Reasoning Task
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.
measure: Trail-Making Test
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.
measure: Flanker Task
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.
Other outcomes:
measure: Perceived Mental Fatigue Questionnaire
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period; also delivered immediately prior to and following each of the five intervention training sessions.
measure: Grip strength task
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.
measure: Stair-climb task
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.
measure: One-leg balance task
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.
measure: Dot task
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.
measure: Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.
measure: Brief Self Control Scale
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.
measure: Multidimensional Outcomes Expectations for Exercise Scale
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.
measure: Exercise Motivations Inventory-2
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.
measure: State Trait Anxiety Inventory
timeFrame: Participants will complete this questionnaire immediately prior and immediately following each of the five intervention training sessions.
measure: Hospitalized Anxiety and Depression Scale
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.
measure: Physical Activity Self Regulation Questionnaire
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.
measure: Self-efficacy for overcoming barriers to exercise
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.
measure: Martial arts experience
timeFrame: Participants will be assessed once, at baseline.
Locations:
city: Urbana
country: United States
facility: Exercise, Technology, and Cognition Laboratory - Louise Freer Hall 284
state: Illinois
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
name: Sean P Mullen, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: