Effects of Twelve Weeks of Square Stepping Exercises on Physical and Cognitive Function and Plasma Content of SMP30: A Randomised Control Trial
Background: Ageing and sedentary lifestyles affect physical and cognitive function and markers of frailty, increasing the risk of falls in older adults and affecting their quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a Square Step Exercise programme on physical and cognitive...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Geriatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/10/1/22 |
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| author | Juan Manuel Franco-García Jorge Pérez-Gómez Antonio Castillo-Paredes Pedro Cosme Redondo Jorge Rojo-Ramos Noelia Mayordomo-Pinilla Santos Villafaina Mari Carmen Gómez-Álvaro Maria Melo-Alonso Jorge Carlos-Vivas |
| author_facet | Juan Manuel Franco-García Jorge Pérez-Gómez Antonio Castillo-Paredes Pedro Cosme Redondo Jorge Rojo-Ramos Noelia Mayordomo-Pinilla Santos Villafaina Mari Carmen Gómez-Álvaro Maria Melo-Alonso Jorge Carlos-Vivas |
| author_sort | Juan Manuel Franco-García |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Ageing and sedentary lifestyles affect physical and cognitive function and markers of frailty, increasing the risk of falls in older adults and affecting their quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a Square Step Exercise programme on physical and cognitive function and plasma SMP30 levels for the prevention of falls in older adults. Methods: A randomised controlled trial was designed with 44 participants assigned to an experimental group (SSE group) and a control group. The SSE group performed SSE sessions twice a week for three months, with a follow-up in the fourth month. The assessments of physical function included tests such as the Four-Square Step Test, Brisk Walking and its dual-task variant, Time Up and Go and its imagined and dual-task variants, 30 s Sit-to-Stand and its dual-task and imagined variants and a 6 min walking test. Questionnaires were also used to assess the risk and fear of falling. Resting EEG activity was also recorded to assess electrocortical brain activity. SMP30 levels were measured by Western blotting. Results: The SSE group showed significant improvements compared to the control group in the Four-Square Step Test (<i>p</i> < 0.001), Brisk Walking (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and reduction in the fear of falling (<i>p</i> < 0.001) after the training programme, but these adaptations were not maintained one month after the programme ended (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the remaining variables of physical function, cognitive function, fall risk questionnaire, EEG activity or plasma levels of SMP30 compared to the control group (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Conclusions: The SSE programme showed efficacy in improving balance, gait speed and reducing fear of falling in older adults but did not show improvement over the control group in other areas of physical or cognitive function or plasma SMP30 levels for fall prevention. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-72efd221645c434c8d95bc1efd4d50bf |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2308-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
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| series | Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-72efd221645c434c8d95bc1efd4d50bf2025-08-20T03:12:00ZengMDPI AGGeriatrics2308-34172025-02-011012210.3390/geriatrics10010022Effects of Twelve Weeks of Square Stepping Exercises on Physical and Cognitive Function and Plasma Content of SMP30: A Randomised Control TrialJuan Manuel Franco-García0Jorge Pérez-Gómez1Antonio Castillo-Paredes2Pedro Cosme Redondo3Jorge Rojo-Ramos4Noelia Mayordomo-Pinilla5Santos Villafaina6Mari Carmen Gómez-Álvaro7Maria Melo-Alonso8Jorge Carlos-Vivas9Health, Economy, Motricity and Education (HEME) Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, SpainHealth, Economy, Motricity and Education (HEME) Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, SpainGrupo AFySE, Investigación en Actividad Física y Salud Escolar, Escuela de Pedagogía en Educación Física, Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago 8370040, ChileCell Physiology Research Group, Department of Physiology, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, SpainPromoting a Healthy Society Research Group (PHeSO), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, SpainBioErgon Research Group, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, SpainGrupo de Investigación en Actividad Física, Calidad de Vida y Salud (AFYCAV), Departamento de Didáctica de la Expresión Musical, Plástica y Corporal, Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte, Universidad de Extremadura, Av. de la Universidad s/n, 10003 Cáceres, SpainGrupo de Investigación en Actividad Física, Calidad de Vida y Salud (AFYCAV), Departamento de Didáctica de la Expresión Musical, Plástica y Corporal, Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte, Universidad de Extremadura, Av. de la Universidad s/n, 10003 Cáceres, SpainGrupo de Investigación en Actividad Física, Calidad de Vida y Salud (AFYCAV), Departamento de Didáctica de la Expresión Musical, Plástica y Corporal, Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte, Universidad de Extremadura, Av. de la Universidad s/n, 10003 Cáceres, SpainPhysical Activity for Education, Performance and Health (PAEPH) Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, SpainBackground: Ageing and sedentary lifestyles affect physical and cognitive function and markers of frailty, increasing the risk of falls in older adults and affecting their quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a Square Step Exercise programme on physical and cognitive function and plasma SMP30 levels for the prevention of falls in older adults. Methods: A randomised controlled trial was designed with 44 participants assigned to an experimental group (SSE group) and a control group. The SSE group performed SSE sessions twice a week for three months, with a follow-up in the fourth month. The assessments of physical function included tests such as the Four-Square Step Test, Brisk Walking and its dual-task variant, Time Up and Go and its imagined and dual-task variants, 30 s Sit-to-Stand and its dual-task and imagined variants and a 6 min walking test. Questionnaires were also used to assess the risk and fear of falling. Resting EEG activity was also recorded to assess electrocortical brain activity. SMP30 levels were measured by Western blotting. Results: The SSE group showed significant improvements compared to the control group in the Four-Square Step Test (<i>p</i> < 0.001), Brisk Walking (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and reduction in the fear of falling (<i>p</i> < 0.001) after the training programme, but these adaptations were not maintained one month after the programme ended (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the remaining variables of physical function, cognitive function, fall risk questionnaire, EEG activity or plasma levels of SMP30 compared to the control group (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Conclusions: The SSE programme showed efficacy in improving balance, gait speed and reducing fear of falling in older adults but did not show improvement over the control group in other areas of physical or cognitive function or plasma SMP30 levels for fall prevention.https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/10/1/22ageingelectroencephalographyexecutive cognitive functionphysical fitnessquality of life |
| spellingShingle | Juan Manuel Franco-García Jorge Pérez-Gómez Antonio Castillo-Paredes Pedro Cosme Redondo Jorge Rojo-Ramos Noelia Mayordomo-Pinilla Santos Villafaina Mari Carmen Gómez-Álvaro Maria Melo-Alonso Jorge Carlos-Vivas Effects of Twelve Weeks of Square Stepping Exercises on Physical and Cognitive Function and Plasma Content of SMP30: A Randomised Control Trial Geriatrics ageing electroencephalography executive cognitive function physical fitness quality of life |
| title | Effects of Twelve Weeks of Square Stepping Exercises on Physical and Cognitive Function and Plasma Content of SMP30: A Randomised Control Trial |
| title_full | Effects of Twelve Weeks of Square Stepping Exercises on Physical and Cognitive Function and Plasma Content of SMP30: A Randomised Control Trial |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Twelve Weeks of Square Stepping Exercises on Physical and Cognitive Function and Plasma Content of SMP30: A Randomised Control Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Twelve Weeks of Square Stepping Exercises on Physical and Cognitive Function and Plasma Content of SMP30: A Randomised Control Trial |
| title_short | Effects of Twelve Weeks of Square Stepping Exercises on Physical and Cognitive Function and Plasma Content of SMP30: A Randomised Control Trial |
| title_sort | effects of twelve weeks of square stepping exercises on physical and cognitive function and plasma content of smp30 a randomised control trial |
| topic | ageing electroencephalography executive cognitive function physical fitness quality of life |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3417/10/1/22 |
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