The Effect of Square Stepping Exercises Training on Lower Extremity

Nigde Omer Halisdemir University120 enrolled

Overview

Physical activity plays an indispensable role to lead a healthy life. Square-stepping exercises (SSE) are aerobic exercises.Our study was designed to investigate the effects of square-stepping exercise training on lower-extremity motor performance, muscle strength, and muscle quality of sedentary healthy young individuals.

A total of 120 volunteers within the age range of 20-25 participated in the research. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, as 60 participants were study group (35 females, 25 males) and 60 participants were control group (35 females, 25 males). Demographic data and exercise habit of the individuals were documented. Participants' lower-extremity motor performance was analyzed through Vertical Jumping, Side Jumping, One Leg Squat, and Step-Up tests. Participants' muscle strength was analyzed through Hand-Held Dynamometer. Also, participants' muscle quality was analyzed through Muscle Quality Index. Throughout 3 weeks SSE training was administered 4 days a week for a length of 45 minutes in each session. All the analyses were conducted at the start and at the end of 3-week long training

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

120

Conditions

Sedentary Healthy Young Individuals

Interventions

Exercises TrainingOTHER

SSE is performed on a thin exercise mat divided into 40 small squares in 250 cm x 100 cm of size (25 cm each part). Participants are given patterns of a few steps and asked to take steps that match them. Participants must, in principal, move ahead in line with the length forward with no contact on the lines forming the squares. Forward, backward, lateral and oblique stepping patterns are required. Stepping patterns get increasingly difficult. Each pattern consists of 2 to 16 steps; participants are asked to repeat step pattern till the end of exercise mat. Upon completing a pattern, another pattern in the same mirror-image is repeated. In essence each pattern is reiterated for 3-5 times and next its mirror-image pattern is repeated but if participants face challenge in performing the pattern it is repeated till the pattern is learnt

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 20 YearsMax age: 25 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 20-25 years old, * Not attending any exercise program for the last 1 year, * Not having a neurological, orthopedic disease or any disease affecting lower extremity, * Not having any lower-extremity surgery, * Individuals without vision and/or hearing problems were included in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Having a vision and/or hearing problem, * Having neurological, psychiatric, and/or orthopedic problems that affect walking, * Individuals with lower-extremity surgery were excluded from the study.

Locations (1)

Nigde Omer Halisdemir University

Niğde, Bor, Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Muscle Quality İndex

Muscle quality was determined through Muscle Quality Index (MQI) which is a valid and reliable method developed by Takai et al. MQI measures 5 repetition sit-to-stand test duration (sec). MQI is calculated by measuring the 5-repetition sit-to-go test duration (sec), body weight (kg), and leg length (L-m). In the calculation, the formula "(L-0,5)\*5\*weight\*g/5" repetitions sit-to-stand test duration is employed.

Time frame: 3 weeks

Muscle Strength

Hand-Held Dynamometer

Time frame: 3 weeks

Motor Performance Assessment 1

Vertical Jumping

Time frame: 3 weeks

Motor Performance Assessment 2

Step-Up

Time frame: 3 weeks

Motor Performance Assessment 3

One Leg Squat

Time frame: 3 weeks

Motor Performance Assessment 4

Side Jumping

Time frame: 3 weeks

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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