Effects of Twelve Weeks of Square Stepping Exercises on Physical and Cognitive Function and Plasma Content of SMP30: A Randomised Control Trial
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
Affiliations
Juan Manuel Franco-García
Health, Economy, Motricity and Education (HEME) Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Jorge Pérez-Gómez
Health, Economy, Motricity and Education (HEME) Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Antonio Castillo-Paredes
Grupo AFySE, Investigación en Actividad Física y Salud Escolar, Escuela de Pedagogía en Educación Física, Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago 8370040, Chile
Pedro Cosme Redondo
Cell Physiology Research Group, Department of Physiology, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Jorge Rojo-Ramos
Promoting a Healthy Society Research Group (PHeSO), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Noelia Mayordomo-Pinilla
BioErgon Research Group, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
Santos Villafaina
Grupo 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, Spain
Mari Carmen Gómez-Álvaro
Grupo 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, Spain
Maria Melo-Alonso
Grupo 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, Spain
Jorge Carlos-Vivas
Physical Activity for Education, Performance and Health (PAEPH) Research Group, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
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 (p p p p p > 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.
