Mind-motor Exercise to Improve Cognition and Functional Fitness

Square Stepping Exercise (SSE) can be best described as a visuospatial working memory task, with a stepping response and thus may be considered as a cognitive-physical exercise or alternatively as a type of mind-motor exercise. The SSE program was developed specifically to improve balance and lower extremity functioning and thereby prevent disability and institutionalization in older adults with recent evidence also suggesting that it may positively impact cognitive functioning.

Through the investigators' collaboration with Dr. Mike Sharratt, President of the Schlegel-University of Waterloo Research Institute for Aging, Jaimie Killingbeck, Program for Active Living Coordinator for Schlegel Villages, and Susan Brown, Research Coordinator for the Schlegel-University of Waterloo Research Institute for Aging this study aims to: further assess the feasibility of square-stepping exercise amongst older adults with a variety of cognitive abilities, increase our collaborative efforts in the broader community and to engage older adults in physical activity to improve global cognitive functioning through a mind-motor exercise intervention.

This study will be a cluster randomized controlled trial, stratified by long-term care or full continuum care of the 4 Schlegel Villages involved, not blinded. The investigators will stratify so that 1 long-term care and 1 full continuum will be randomized to begin the square-stepping program immediately, and 1 long-term care and 1 full continuum care will be randomized to usual-care wait list control group, that will begin the program once 12-week measurements are complete. The facilities were stratified to help balance baseline cognition between the intervention and control groups. The 4 facilities are: Long-term Care - Glendale Crossings and St. Claire; Full continuum Care - Tansley Woods and Winston Park. The sites were pre-randomized to allow facilities time to prepare their programming schedules to include square-stepping exercise to their residents. Intervention sites include Glendale Crossings and Tansley Woods and wait-list control sites include St. Claire and Winston Park. Outcomes assessments will be completed by graduate students and research assistants on this project. The assessments will be completed at each of the Villages. The Schlegel Villages staff Kinesiologists/ Exercise Therapists will implement the square-stepping exercise program during the 12 week period. Study staff will train the Schlegel Villages staff on how to implement the program.

Inclusion criteria

• All residents of the 4 Schlegel Villages: Glendale Crossing, St. Clair, Tansley Woods, Winston Park
• Both males and females

Exclusion criteria

• Wheelchair bound residents
• Residents who are blind or deaf without aids
• Any residents who may not be able to participate due to health or behaviours in collaboration and discretion of the Schlegel Villages staff.
• Residents who have a diagnosis of dementia, have a score of greater than 3 on the Cognitive Performance Scale (determined by each Schlegel Village) and advice from Schlegel Villages staff will be excluded from specific assessments (dual-task gait; oculomotor function; global cognitive functioning outcomes; Montreal Cognitive Assessment; 2 cognitive questions).