Effects of a Complex, Partnered Martial Arts-based Intervention on Cognitive Function

NCT04760054 | Terminated

• 1 other identifier: 21174
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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.

Conditions

Cognitive Change; Processing, Visual Spatial; Inhibition (Psychology); Working Memory

Keywords

Cognitive Performance; Complex movement

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Digit Symbol Substitution task

  Processing speed and working memory cognitive task using numbers and symbols. Participants will be presented with multiple rows of symbols, each one corresponding to a number on a 1-9 scale and they will have two minutes to correctly match (in sequential order) as many symbols to their numbers as possible. Performance is computed by adding the number of symbols correctly-matched within the allotted time.

  Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.

• n-2back memory task

  Working memory cognitive task involving a sequence of shapes briefly appearing on a computer screen. If the shape on screen is identical to the shape two stages before, the participant will press the 'match' key. If they are not identical, the participant should do nothing. Performance is derived by the number of correctly-matched shapes in the sequence and calculating the average reaction time across the trials.

  Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Matrix Reasoning Task

  Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.

• Trail-Making Test

  Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.

• Flanker Task

  Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.

Other Outcomes (14)

• Perceived Mental Fatigue Questionnaire

  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.

• Grip strength task

  Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.

• Stair-climb task

  Participants will be assessed at baseline and in the week immediately following the two-week intervention period.

Study Arms (3)

HUBOD martial arts practice

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will be trained in the Hubod exercise over 5 separate training sessions. Sessions will last approximately 30 minutes, involving a warm up, review of material from the previous session and the learning of the next movement in the HUBOD sequence. Heartrate will be monitored periodically to make sure the intensity of exercise is consistent with mild to moderate cardiovascular exercise as in the active comparator.

Behavioral: HUBOD

Active Comparator - Stationary Bicycle

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will be given 5 separate sessions, each approximating 30 minutes in duration, of mild to moderate intensity cardiovascular training on a stationary bicycle. Heartrate will be monitored periodically to make sure the intensity of exercise is consistent with mild to moderate exercise as in the Experimental group.

Behavioral: Active Comparator

Attentional Control Group

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants will be given 5 separate sessions, each approximating 30 minutes in duration, of watching videos on martial arts training methods and techniques. These sessions will be completely sedentary.

Behavioral: Control Condition

Interventions

HUBOD BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the intervention group will attend 5 separate training sessions instructing them in Hubod. The Hubod exercise is a partnered coordination drill involving moves derived from numerous martial arts, most often seen in the Filipino martial art of Kali. Participants will aim to reach a level of comfort and competency in the basic, non-competitive aspects of the Hubod exercise by the end of their participation in this intervention.

Also known as: Martial Arts Experimental Exercise Group, Hubod Training Group

HUBOD martial arts practice

Active Comparator BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the active comparator group will attend 5 separate training sessions. Each session will involve a 5 minute warmup of joint mobilization exercises and mild pedaling on the bicycle before the main effort of continuously using the bicycle for approximately 20 minutes. The session finishes with a 5 minute cooldown period and light stretch. Heartrate will be monitored regularly in order to prevent this exercise exceeding the relative intensity of the Martial Arts intervention group. Participants will be allowed to talk and interact with research assistants in order to keep socialization effects consistent across groups.

Also known as: Exercise Comparison Group, Stationary Bike Group

Active Comparator - Stationary Bicycle

Control Condition BEHAVIORAL

Participants in this group will attend 5 separate training sessions. Each session will involve watching educational videos on martial arts techniques and training methods from a sedentary position. Participants will be allowed to talk and interact with research assistants in order to keep socialization effects consistent across groups.

Attentional Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

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

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: lead

Study Sites (1)

Exercise, Technology, and Cognition Laboratory - Louise Freer Hall 284

Urbana, Illinois, 61801, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Spatial Processing; Inhibition, Psychological

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Spatial Behavior; Behavior

Study Officials

• Sean P Mullen, PhD

  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The outcomes assessor will be masked to group allocation. Participants will not be masked from knowledge of other group's activities, but will only receive the training from one specific training group.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor Sean Mullen

Model Details: Three groups: One intervention, One Exercise Comparison, One Attentional Control

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 15, 2021
• First Posted: February 18, 2021
• Study Start: March 24, 2021
• Primary Completion: December 15, 2021
• Study Completion: December 15, 2021
• Last Updated: August 25, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)