Effects of Aerobic Exercises on Dual-task Performance and Motor Skills in Children With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Summary

Cognition refers to the mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and understanding, encompassing aspects such as thinking, knowing, remembering, judging, and problem-solving. These processes include attention, memory, executive functions, perception, language, and visuospatial skills. In children, cognitive development is critical for academic success, social interactions, and daily living activities. In the context of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in children, cognitive processes may be less efficient or slower than in typically developing peers.This can affect their ability to perform tasks that require simultaneous cognitive and motor functions, known as dual tasks. Aerobic exercises are known to provide numerous cognitive and physical benefits, but their specific impact on children with MCI has not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of study is to analyze the effects of aerobic exercises on dual-task performance and motor skills in children with mild cognitive impairment.The current study will be randomized control trial; data will be collected from Government special education center Johar Town. The study will include patients equally divided into two groups and randomly allocated. Inclusion criteria for the study will be both genders, having age between7 to 12, children with IQ ranging from 50-70, who are cooperative. Children with Hearing or vision impairment, any neurological/musculoskeletal disorder or already involved in an intervention program will also be excluded from the study. Experimental group will perform a structured aerobic exercise program and control group will do its daily routine activities. The intervention group will receive 3 sessions per week for 12weeks. Each session lasted 45 min on average. Outcomes to be analyzed will be dual-task performance and motor skills. Tools used for data collection will be Timed Up and Go, Single Leg Stance, Tandem Stance, and 30-second Sit-to-Stand tests and TGMD-2. Data will be analyzed through SPSS version 26.00.

Conditions

• Cognitive Impairment

Interventions

OTHER

Aerobic Exercise

Warm-Up (5 minutes): Marching in Place: 2 minutes of marching to elevate heart rate. Arm Circles: 1 minute of small and large arm circles. Side Steps with Arm Swings: 2 minutes of stepping side to side with gentle arm swings. Main Exercise Routine (35 minutes): Walking/Jogging Intervals: 10 minutes alternating between 1 minute of walking and 1 minute of jogging. Jumping rope: 10 minutes of rope jumping. As a pre-determined routine to maintain consistency. Aerobic Games: 10 minutes of structured games like: 1. Simon Says: Incorporating aerobic movements like jumping jacks, running in place, etc. 2. Obstacle Course: Pre-planned course involving stepping over objects, crawling, and balancing. Ball Activities: 5 minutes of activities such as throwing and catching, or dribbling a ball around cones. 3. Cool Down (5 minutes) Stretching: Gentle stretching of major muscle groups, holding each stretch for 20-30 seconds.

OTHER

Light Physical Activity Plan

Warm-Up (5 minutes): Gentle Walking: 2 minutes at a slow pace. Light Arm Movements: 1 minute of gently moving arms up and down. Side Steps: 2 minutes of gentle side stepping. 2\. Main Activity Routine (35 minutes): Stretching Exercises: 10 minutes of gentle stretching, focusing on flexibility. Balance Activities: 10 minutes of activities such as: Standing on One Leg: Holding balance for 10-15 seconds on each leg. Heel-to-Toe Walking: Walking in a straight line, placing the heel of one foot directly in front of the toes of the other foot. 3. Light Coordination Games: 10 minutes of low-intensity activities like: Passing a Ball: Gently passing a ball back and forth with a partner. Basic Catch and Throw: Simple throw and catch exercises with a soft ball. Guided Relaxation: 5 minutes of guided relaxation techniques, including deep breathing and visualization. 4. Cool Down (5 minutes) Gentle Stretching: Stretching major muscle groups, holding each stretch for 20-30 second

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Fareeha Kausar, PP-DPT · Riphah International University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

7 Years

Max Age

12 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-02-20

Primary Completion

2025-07-15

Completion

2025-07-30

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations