Impact of High-Volume Upper Limb Training on Physical and Cognitive Outcomes

International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IFQQ-SF): UFQ-SF was developed by Craig and colleagues to determine the physical activity levels of individuals between the ages of 15-65. The short form is recommended more because the long form is boring and repetitive, so the "last 7 days" short form was used in our study. The short form (7 questions) provides information on time spent in sitting, walking, moderate-intensity and vigorous activities. The total score is expressed as one MET-min/week and is obtained by multiplying the number of days and minutes of walking, moderate-intensity and vigorous activity and the MET score.

The arm ergometer test is a widely used method to evaluate maximal arm exercise capacity, requiring the involvement of chest, back, hip, and leg muscles for body stabilization. This is particularly important as the test primarily targets a smaller muscle mass compared to bicycle ergometer testing. For this study, the Monark 881E Rehab Trainer (MONARK 881E, Monark, Varberg, Sweden) arm ergometer will be employed.

The Stroop Test utilized in this study is based on the Istanbul Medical Faculty (Çapa) Neuropsychology Laboratory adaptation of the Stroop Test form originally developed by Weintraub (2000). Participants are instructed to name the colors of the small rectangles (red, blue, green) as quickly as possible, moving from left to right. This stage is used to identify any visual or color perception impairments, such as color blindness. If such deficiencies are detected, the test is discontinued.Stroop B (word reading): Participants are asked to read aloud the printed color names (red, blue, green) that are written in incompatible ink colors as quickly as possible. Stroop C (Color-Word Interference).

The auditory and visual reaction times of sedentary individuals will be assessed using the Newtest 1000™ device (OY, Oulu, Finland). This device is capable of delivering three types of stimuli and consists of two primary components designed for precise reaction time measurements.Following the familiarization trial, three measurements will be conducted for each type of stimulus (auditory and visual), and the reaction times will be recorded in milliseconds. This protocol ensures the reliability of the data and accounts for variability in individual performance.

The participant will be asked to hold a metal tipped pencil with his dominant hand for 15 seconds in the 9 holes that are gradually decreasing in size without touching the edges. The purpose of the test will be to analyze the stability of the hand, exercise, smoking, alcohol intake, psychomotor speed, exercise and fatigue. Errors that occur when the participant touches the hole area will be recorded digitally. The test will be repeated 3 times on average and the result value will be calculated.

Postural sway was assessed using the GYKO body sway device (Microgait, Italy), a validated tool that measures sway along two axes: mediolateral and anteroposterior (Jaworski et al., 2020). During the assessment, participants were instructed to stand in an upright posture with their feet positioned 10 cm apart and to maintain this posture for a duration of 30 seconds.

Each participant underwent two trials under different visual conditions: eyes open and eyes closed. The mediolateral and anteroposterior sway distances were recorded for each trial. Data were automatically captured and stored in the accompanying computer software for subsequent analysis. This protocol ensures a reliable evaluation of postural control and stability under varying sensory conditions.

MicroFET 2 muscle strength is a usable method for measuring muscle strength (Malliopoulos & Thevenon, 2002). Muscle strength is defined as the highest (maximal) voluntary contraction that the subject can perform under specific test conditions. The individual performed the highest voluntary contraction 3 times for each test. The individual increases his strength for 2 seconds and maintains it at the highest level for 3 seconds.