RCT Orienteering

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of the orienteering modality with the walking modality and a control group in terms of gait and cognitive skills. How the methodology was carried out a randomized clinical trial (RCT) compared the effects of training, dual-task orienteering and single-task hiking in healthy older adults (n = 90) allocated into three groups: orientation group (OG), hiking group (HG) and control group (CG). Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests, including a dual-task version (TUG-DT), as well as cognitive tests were administered. Differences were analyzed by Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) with Bonferroni correction, and the effect size (ES) was calculated. Unpaired tests analyzed potential baseline differences, while intragroup and paired and unpaired intergroup tests assessed differences between baseline and 24 weeks after the intervention. This RCT highlights the interaction effects between groups and time, showing that only the OG in the TUG-DT reduced 6 seconds over time, with a change of 42% (ES=0.77). Likewise, the underlying variables, Dual TUG + cognitive stops (TUG-DT+ CS) and Dual TUG + cognitive stops + cognitive errors (TUG-DT + CS + CE) reduced 7 (ES=0.85) and 8 (ES = 0.90) seconds, respectively (<0.001). Task cost improved by 75% for OG and 24% for HG, demonstrating significant differences (p=0.001) and ES of 0.56 for OG. For cognition it increased 49.2% (ES=2.00) for OG and 16.5% for HG in executive functions and visuospatial skills, 31.4% (ES=1.64) for OG and 14.7% for HG in processing speed and memory by 39.8% (ES=1.62) for OG and 6.5% for HG. All interactions were <0.001. These findings highlight the potential of orienteering as a modality that can enhance resistance to interference from a secondary task on the primary task, resulting in improved efficiency in both gait performance and cognitive flexibility. Many studies explore the neuroscientific paradigm of dual-task through exercise programs for older aduktas. This RCT investigated the orienteering modality, which has a significant potential in addressing physical and cognitive demands that have not been previously explored in research involving older individuals and their physical and cognitive demands. Particularly, orienteering showed better performance in functional mobility and dual-tasks. The clinical effects were evidenced for the concurrent use of these physical and cognitive abilities by the orienteering with significant changes and intervention effect that varied from strong to medium. This RCT suggests the effectiveness of orienteering, even if it has never been practiced, being useful for greater efficiency in gait performance and cognitive flexibility. We encourage the application of this modality in gerontological physical education and scientific research.