NCT04760054

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

Effects of a Complex, Partnered Martial Arts-based Intervention on Cognitive Function in Comparison to Aerobic Exercise and Attention-control Among Low-active Adults

• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 32 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

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.

Conditions

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

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	HUBOD	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.
BEHAVIORAL	Active Comparator	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.
BEHAVIORAL	Control Condition	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.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-03-24
• Primary completion: 2021-12-15
• Completion: 2021-12-15
• First posted: 2021-02-18
• Last updated: 2022-08-25

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States