Acute Effects of Maximal Exercise on Balance and Cognitive Domains in Young Men

Primary outcomes

1. Sensory analysis

   Time frame: Change from baseline to 20 minutes after intervention or after 20 minutes of passive rest

   Sensory organization (sensory integration; multi-sensory organization) is the ability of an individual to effectively process individual sensory system input cues to maintain balance control. This is done by suppressing inaccurate sensory system inputs while selecting appropriately from other, more accurate sensory cues to generate appropriate motor and postural response strategies. The Sensory Organization Test, systematically assesses this ability, objectively isolating and quantifying the use of each sensory system and the adaptive (or maladaptive) responses of the central nervous system. It is calculated as a ratio of Equilibrium scores.

   The result is expressed as an inverse percentage between 0 and 100.

2. Balance Strategy

   Time frame: Change from baseline to 20 minutes after intervention or after 20 minutes of passive rest

   The relative use of movement about the ankle, hips and upper body to maintain balance during the SOT is reflected in the strategy scores. Shear forces are exerted against the support surface whenever the body's COG accelerates in the horizontal direction. Sway movements about the ankle are confined to low frequencies (below 0.5 Hz), the resulting COG accelerations and shear are small. Hip movements are typically fast (1 Hz and above) and therefore, generate larger shear forces which are also higher in frequency. Strategy scores are calculated by comparing the peak-to-peak amplitude of the shear oscillation to the maximum possible shear of 25 pounds (11.4 kg). This comparison is expressed as a percentage, with scores near 100 indicating little, if any, shear (i.e. full ankle strategy), while scores approaching zero indicate maximum shear (i.e. full hip strategy). All data describing the displacement of the center of gravity were recorded on a stilometric platform.

3. Equilibrium scores

   Time frame: Change from baseline to 20 minutes after intervention or after 20 minutes of passive rest

   The equilibrium score for each trial is calculated by comparing the angular difference between the patient's maximum anterior to posterior COG displacements to this theoretical maximum displacement. All data describing the displacement of the center of gravity were recorded on a stilometric platform. The result is expressed as an inverse percentage between 0 and 100. Scores approaching 0 indicate sway amplitudes approaching the limits of stability with a value of 100 indicating perfect stability. A score of 0 indicates that the patient "fell" on that trial.

   The SOT consists of six trials:

   • Test on a stationary platform with eyes open,
   • Test on a stationary platform with eyes closed,
   • Test on a stationary platform with eyes open, but moving surroundings,
   • Test on a moving platform, stationary surroundings, with eyes open,
   • Examination on a moving platform with eyes closed
   • Examination on a moving platform with eyes open a moving environment

4. Stroop Test

   Time frame: Change from baseline to 20 minutes after intervention or after 20 minutes of passive rest

   Accuracy and reaction times were recorded for all trials. Reaction times (RTs) and response accuracy were calculated separately for congruent and incongruent trials. Accuracy was defined as the proportion of correct responses within each condition. RT analyses were restricted to correct trials only