RCT Orienteering
Description
The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of the orienteering modality with the walking modality and a control group in terms of gait and cognitive skills. How the methodology was carried out a randomized clinical trial (RCT) compared the effects of training, dual-task orienteering and single-task hiking in healthy older adults (n = 90) allocated into three groups: orientation group (OG), hiking group (HG) and control group (CG). Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests, including a dual-task version (TUG-DT), as well as cognitive tests were administered. Differences were analyzed by Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) with Bonferroni correction, and the effect size (ES) was calculated. Unpaired tests analyzed potential baseline differences, while intragroup and paired and unpaired intergroup tests assessed differences between baseline and 24 weeks after the intervention. This RCT highlights the interaction effects between groups and time, showing that only the OG in the TUG-DT reduced 6 seconds over time, with a change of 42% (ES=0.77). Likewise, the underlying variables, Dual TUG + cognitive stops (TUG-DT+ CS) and Dual TUG + cognitive stops + cognitive errors (TUG-DT + CS + CE) reduced 7 (ES=0.85) and 8 (ES = 0.90) seconds, respectively (<0.001). Task cost improved by 75% for OG and 24% for HG, demonstrating significant differences (p=0.001) and ES of 0.56 for OG. For cognition it increased 49.2% (ES=2.00) for OG and 16.5% for HG in executive functions and visuospatial skills, 31.4% (ES=1.64) for OG and 14.7% for HG in processing speed and memory by 39.8% (ES=1.62) for OG and 6.5% for HG. All interactions were <0.001. These findings highlight the potential of orienteering as a modality that can enhance resistance to interference from a secondary task on the primary task, resulting in improved efficiency in both gait performance and cognitive flexibility. Many studies explore the neuroscientific paradigm of dual-task through exercise programs for older aduktas. This RCT investigated the orienteering modality, which has a significant potential in addressing physical and cognitive demands that have not been previously explored in research involving older individuals and their physical and cognitive demands. Particularly, orienteering showed better performance in functional mobility and dual-tasks. The clinical effects were evidenced for the concurrent use of these physical and cognitive abilities by the orienteering with significant changes and intervention effect that varied from strong to medium. This RCT suggests the effectiveness of orienteering, even if it has never been practiced, being useful for greater efficiency in gait performance and cognitive flexibility. We encourage the application of this modality in gerontological physical education and scientific research.
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Steps to reproduce
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a parallel design of two arms and a control group, using open masking, was conducted between March and October 2022, with a duration of 24 weeks. Three groups of older adults living in the community of Porto Alegre/RS (Brazil). Participants were invited to participate through social networks. were compared: the first experimental group had a walking program defined as the Hiking Group (HG); the second experimental group had an orienteering program (walking + map reading) defined as the Orienteering Group (OG), and the control group (CG) maintained their daily level of physical activity. The randomization sequence was determined using the "online random team generator" program (https://www.randomlists.com/team-generator) in which three groups were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 allocation proportion (first male, second female), with sequential numbers. This study followed the CONSORT guidelines for RCTs (http://www.consort-statement.org). All ethical procedures were complied with and carried out. To calculate the required sample size, we referred to a randomized clinical trial that analyzed the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Dual-Task TUG (DT) tests as primary outcomes. To determine the sample size for the present RCT, we referred to a study by Brustio et al. (2018). Through this a priori power analysis, it was indicated that a total of 75 participants would be necessary to achieve 80% power for a pre-test and post-test of two intervention groups and control, for 24 weeks (25 participants per group). The sample was increased to 90 (30 participants per group) to account for the expected dropout rate of 20%. Participants underwent individual assessments at baseline and 24 weeks by the same trained researcher, who held a doctoral degree in sports science. Recorded measurements included gait (TUG and TUG-DT) and cognitive function (BETA III General Non-Verbal Intelligence Test, Concentrated attention (AC) test and Pictorial memory test - 2 (tepic-m-2)), scale and questionnaire results, and sociodemographic characteristics. Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests, including a dual-task version (TUG-DT), as well as cognitive tests were administered. Differences were analyzed by Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) with Bonferroni correction, and the effect size (ES) was calculated. Unpaired tests analyzed potential baseline differences, while intragroup and paired and unpaired intergroup tests assessed differences between baseline and 24 weeks after the intervention.
Institutions
- Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul Faculdade de Medicina