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

NCT04804475 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Effect of SSE Training
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 112
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Sedentary Healthy Young Individuals

Keywords

Square-stepping exercise training; attention; dynamic balance; motor coordination

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Attention Assessment (Stroop test)

  The Stroop test measures cognitive functions such as cognitive flexibility, attention, inhibition, and reaction time. The test is administered by asking participants to name the colors of words written in different colors; they must focus on the colors of the words, not their meanings.

  3 weeks

• Dynamic Balance Assessment (Four-step Square Test)

  The subject is required to sequentially step over four canes set-up in a cross configuration on the ground. At the start of the test, the subject stands in Square 1 facing Square 2. The aim is to step as fast as possible into each square with both feet in the following sequence: Square 2, 3, 4, 1, 4, 3, 2, 1 (clockwise to counterclockwise)

  3 weeks

• Motor Coordination Assessment (Lower extremity Motor Coordination Test)

  This test is completed with the patient sitting.There are two red targets on a sheet, 6 cm in diameter each, which are placed 30 apart in a vertical direction. The patient, sitting in a comfortable position with their knees flexed at 90 degrees and their heels on the proximal target, is asked to alternately move their leg back and forth to accurately touch the red target with their big toe. They must do this as quick as they can, and as many times as they can, in 20 seconds.

  3 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Training Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

This group has no intervention. Evaluations were only made at the start and at the end of 3-week long.

Interventions

Exercise Trainig OTHER

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

Also known as: Square-steeping exercise

Training Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• Having visual and hearing problem,
• Neurological problem debilitating one's walking,
• Having psychiatric or orthopedic problem
• Having surgery history on lower extremity.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Pamukkale University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Pamukkale University

Denizli, 20100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Tikac G, Unal A, Altug F. Effects of Square-Stepping Exercise Training on the Attention, Dynamic Balance and Lower Extremity Motor Coordination. Physiother Res Int. 2026 Jan;31(1):e70123. doi: 10.1002/pri.70123.

  PMID: 41216663 DERIVED

Study Officials

• Gulsum Tikac

  Pamukkale University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Ayse Unal

  Pamukkale University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• Filiz Altug

  Pamukkale University

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 16, 2021
• First Posted: March 18, 2021
• Study Start: September 10, 2019
• Primary Completion: September 10, 2020
• Study Completion: September 10, 2020
• Last Updated: June 3, 2025

Record last verified: 2021-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)