Effects of a Complex, Partnered Martial Arts-based Intervention on Cognitive Processing.
- Conditions
- Cognitive ChangeProcessing, Visual Spatial
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Martial Arts Training GroupBehavioral: Flexing, Toning and Balance
- Registration Number
- NCT05530148
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Brief Summary
The investigators' study is designed to test whether prolonged exposure to a martial arts-based intervention (three complex, partner exercises based on Filipino, Chinese and Thai martial arts practices), can improve cognitive processing to a greater degree than resistive exercise of a similar intensity.
- Detailed Description
This two-group randomized controlled trial will compare the effects of a martial arts intervention vs. resistive exercise condition. The martial arts intervention will consist of partnered, coordinated exercises drawn from south-east Asian martial arts, including Fillipino Kali, Chinese Wing Chun Kung Fu and Muay Thai (also known as Thai Boxing). Participants will be trained in the fundamental movements of the exercises known as hubud, chi sau and padwork. Participants will also have the history, cultural significance, risks and purpose of these exercises explained to them throughout the study.
The resistive exercise comparator group will use a series of bodyweight resistance, band resistance and postural exercises 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.
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 be asked to attend as many sessions (maximum 24 sessions) delivered over the course of an 8-week intervention period as they can, approximately 1 hour 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 processing tasks when compared to less complex movement patterns involved in the resistive exercise group.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 72
- Men and Women between the ages of 18-45 years reporting lower levels of physical activity (sedentary or mild physical activity levels only)
- 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 and exercises related to coordinated movement (≥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 or anyone with recent (within the two months) surgery on their shoulders, elbows, knees or hips.
- Anyone who is currently diagnosed with depression and is receiving treatment (medication or counselling) for their depression.
- 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 with insufficient proficiency (fluency) in English to understand the
- Anyone with blood pressure readings exceeding our safety limits (systolic >160 and diastolic >90)
- Anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 60 days
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Martial Arts Group Martial Arts Training Group Participants will be trained in the martial arts exercises using both in-person group sessions and asynchronous remote learning via video content distributed to them each week. Participants will be asked to attend as many of the 24 in-person sessions as they can. 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. Flexing, Toning and Balance Flexing, Toning and Balance Flexibility, Toning and Balance or FTB will be used to refer to our resistive exercise comparison. As in the experimental group, participants will be asked to attend as many of the 24 in-person intervention sessions as they can, whilst also practicing the exercises remotely via video content distributed to them. The remote portion of this intervention will be asynchronous. Heart-rate will be monitored periodically to make sure the intensity of exercise is consistent with mild to moderate cardiovascular exercise as in the martial arts experimental group.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Processing Speed (Latent Factor) 8 weeks Cognitive processing speed will be modeled within a latent variable framework reflecting standardized scores from four heterogeneous assessments involving visual stimuli. Performance for all of these tasks will be measured by number of correct responses (accuracy) as well as reaction/decision-making times.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire 8 weeks This is a 4-item assessment of physical activity. Respondents are asked the frequency they engage in strenuous, moderate and mild activity for 15 minutes or more as part of their free time. Weekly leisure time exercise is measured using a weighted formula as follows:
(9 x strenuous PA) + (5 x moderate PA) + (3 x light PA)Perceived Mental Fatigue 8 weeks A novel, 7-item assessment of current state of mental fatigue will be used (example items include "My thoughts easily wander," "My thinking requires effort.") The scales response ranges from 1 (not true at all) to 5 (very true) and all items are summed and averaged whereby higher scores indicated greater mental fatigue.
Perceptions of Mastery 8 weeks Perceptions of Mastery has four items scored on a 5-point likert scale. Two items ask participants to rate their current level of knowledge/mastery and two items address performance and skill status; with -2 meaning 'rapidly declining' and +2 meaning 'rapidly improving.' Scores are summed and then average to give a measure of perceived mastery.
Enjoyment of Exercise 8 weeks The Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) was originally an 18-item scale for assessing PA enjoyment, and has been further refined and psychometrically tested by Mullen and his colleagues (Massey et al 2021; Mullen et al 2011). The 7-item version is a reliable and time-invariant measure. The scale asks participants "How do you feel at the moment about the physical activity you have been doing?" and responses are provided on 7-point Likert scales. For example, "Its no fun at all" and "Its a lot of fun" represent bipolar anchors. Items are added and averaged whereby higher scores reflect greater levels of enjoyment.
Memory 8 weeks Frequency of Forgetting is a 10-item scale asking participants to score on a 1-10 Likert scale how often they forget or have difficulty remembering certain things. On this scale, 1 = Always and 10 = Never. The measure is typically scored as a sum of all responses, with a higher number indicating better memory/recall and lower numbers indicating poorer memory/recall. The first item also serves as a standalone measure.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Exercise, Technology, and Cognition Laboratory - Louise Freer Hall 284
🇺🇸Urbana, Illinois, United States