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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06108713

The Influence of Juggling on Selected Cognitive Functions and Postural Stability Variables.

The purpose of the study is to verify the effect of juggling exercises on selected cognitive functions (reaction time, attention) and postural stability variabilities (based on center of pressure signal) in two different protocols: [1] a randomised crossover study design, [2] a randomised repeated measurement design.

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Key information

Conditions

Aging Cognitive Change

Age range

65 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Poznan University of Physical Education

Poznan, Wielkopolska, 61-871, Poland

About this study

Juggling is a form of exercise, that can engage humans, both cognitively and physically. One of the positive aspects of taking up this form of exercise is the growing evidence indicating that juggling improves the well-being of exercisers. Most importantly, the juggling intervention causes an increase in the volume of the gray matter and white matter in the human brain, and thus shows potential for neuroplasticity. In addition, unhealthy aging is observed nowadays, which causes both physical and cognitive decline in daily functioning, further interfering with the elderly's ability to perform daily activities. Therefore, the addition of juggling exercises may have a positive effect on the changes that occur with aging.

However, currently there are hardly any data on the juggling effect on cognitive functions and on postural stability. Therefore, the study aims to examine the effect of juggling exercises on selected cognitive functions and postural stability variables in two different randomised trials.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • physically active
  • over 65 years old
  • with no injuries of pathologies involving the upper limb
  • without neurological issues
  • with no significant visual impairments

Exclusion criteria

  • mixed or left-handedness
  • sedentary lifestyle
  • prior experience in juggling
  • under or above the required age
  • contraindications to physical activity

Treatment and study plan

Addition of juggling

Other

Participants will not change ther daily activities, and participate in juggling intervention lasted 4 weeks and consisted of 12 meetings (3 trainings per week), each lasting 45 minutes.

Primary outcomes

  1. Velocity of center of pressure assessed with AMTI force plate

    Time frame: Assessment of the velocity of center of pressure will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Postural stability variable based on center of pressure signal. Velocity of center of pressure will be presented in centimeters per seconds.

  2. Area 95 percentile assessed with AMTI force plate

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Postural stability variable based on center of pressure signal. Area 95 percentile will be presented in square centimetres.

  3. Medio-lateral range of sway assessed with AMTI force plate

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Postural stability variable based on center of pressure signal. Medio-lateral range of sway will be presented in centimeters.

  4. Anterior-posterior range of sway assessed with AMTI force plate

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Postural stability variable based on center of pressure signal. Anterior-posterior range of sway will be presented in centimeters.

  5. Effective value of medio-lateral velocity assessed with AMTI force plate

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Postural stability variable based on center of pressure signal. Effective value of medio-lateral velocity of sway will be presented in centimeters per seconds.

  6. Effective value of anterior-posterior velocity assessed with AMTI force plate

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Postural stability variable based on center of pressure signal. Effective value of anterior-posterior velocity of sway will be presented in centimeters per seconds.

  7. Absolute error of elbow joint position accuracy assessed with electrogoniometers

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Proprioception ability. Measured in degrees of flexion.

  8. Variable error of elbow joint position accuracy assessed with electrogoniometers

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Proprioception ability. Measured in degrees of flexion.

  9. Constant error of elbow joint position accuracy assessed with electrogoniometers

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Proprioception ability. Measured in degrees of flexion.

  10. Root mean square error of elbow joint position accuracy assessed with electrogoniometers

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Proprioception ability. Measured in degrees of flexion.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Simple reaction time assessed with reaction time test in Vienna Test System

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Selected cognitive function - simple reaction time (one visual stimulus, reaction to one visual stimulus) measured in milliseconds.

  2. Complex reaction time assessed with reaction time test in Vienna Test System

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Selected cognitive function - choice reaction time (two visual stimuli, reaction to one visual stimulus) measured in milliseconds.

  3. Decision time assessed with reaction time test in Vienna Test System

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Selected cognitive function - decision time (difference between complex reaction time and simple reaction time variables) measured in milliseconds.

  4. Motor time assessed with reaction time test in Vienna Test System

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Selected cognitive function - motor reaction time (time of movement during both simple and complex reaction time tests) measured in milliseconds.

  5. Time of correct rejections assessed with cognitrone test in Vienna Test System

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Selected cognitive function - one variable of attention measured in seconds.

  6. Time of correct acceptance assessed with cognitrone test in Vienna Test System

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Selected cognitive function - one variable of attention measured in seconds.

  7. Number of correct acceptance assessed with cognitrone test in Vienna Test System

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Selected cognitive function - one variable of attention measured in unity values.

  8. Duration of test assessed with cognitrone test in Vienna Test System

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days before juggling/no juggling periods, and also up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of four time points.

    Selected cognitive function - one variable of attention measured in seconds.

  9. Physical activity level assessed with a CHAMPS questionnaire

    Time frame: Assessment will be carried out up to three days after juggling/no juggling periods. Measurements will be taken at a total of two time points.

    Assesment of physical activity level with a CHAMPS questionnaire. Results presented as frequency of total physical activity and caloric expenditure per week.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Poznan University of Physical Education

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Juggling Training on Some Cognitive Functions and Coordination Abilities in Older People.

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2023
First posted
Oct 31, 2023
Registry last updated
Oct 31, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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