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.

本研究旨在对比定向运动模式、步行模式与对照组在步态与认知技能维度的干预效果。本研究采用随机对照试验（randomized clinical trial, RCT）设计，将90名健康老年人随机分为三组：定向组（orientation group, OG）、徒步组（hiking group, HG）与对照组（control group, CG），对比三种干预方案的效果：双任务定向运动训练、单任务徒步训练与常规对照。研究施行了计时起立行走（Timed Up and Go, TUG）测试（包含双任务版本TUG-DT）以及多项认知功能测试。组间差异采用结合Bonferroni校正的广义估计方程（Generalized Estimating Equations, GEE）进行分析，并计算效应量（effect size, ES）。采用非配对检验分析基线潜在差异，同时通过组内配对检验与组间非配对检验，评估干预前基线与干预后24周的各项指标差异。本RCT揭示了组别与时间的交互效应：仅定向组在双任务TUG测试中随时间推移完成时间缩短6秒，变化幅度达42%（ES=0.77）。同理，核心指标双任务TUG+认知停顿（TUG-DT+CS）以及双任务TUG+认知停顿+认知错误（TUG-DT+CS+CE）的完成时间分别缩短7秒（ES=0.85）与8秒（ES=0.90），差异均具有统计学意义（p<0.001）。任务成本在定向组提升75%，徒步组提升24%，组间差异具有统计学意义（p=0.001），定向组的效应量为0.56。认知功能方面，定向组的执行功能与视空间技能提升49.2%（ES=2.00），徒步组提升16.5%；定向组的加工速度提升31.4%（ES=1.64），徒步组提升14.7%；定向组的记忆功能提升39.8%（ES=1.62），徒步组提升6.5%。所有交互效应的统计学显著性均为p<0.001。本研究结果表明，定向运动模式可提升个体对次级任务干扰初级任务的抵抗能力，进而同时改善步态表现与认知灵活性，展现出良好的应用潜力。既往诸多研究通过针对老年人的运动项目，探索双任务的神经科学范式。本RCT聚焦定向运动模式，该模式在满足老年人身心需求方面具有显著潜力，而此前相关研究尚未充分探索这一点。具体而言，定向运动在功能移动能力与双任务表现方面均展现出更优效果。定向运动可同时调动躯体与认知能力，其临床效应体现为各项指标出现显著变化，干预效应量从中度到强不等。本RCT证实，即便从未接触过定向运动的人群也可从中获益，该模式能够有效提升步态表现与认知灵活性。我们建议将定向运动模式应用于老年体育教育与相关科学研究中。