Next Article in Journal
Using Geostatistical Gaussian Simulation for Designing and Interpreting Soil Surface Magnetic Susceptibility Measurements
Next Article in Special Issue
A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Acceptability of Using a Smart Pillbox to Enhance Medication Adherence Among Primary Care Patients
Previous Article in Journal
The Relationships between High School Subjects in terms of School Satisfaction and Academic Performance in Mexican Adolescents
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Effects of Traditional vs. iPad-Enhanced Aerobic Exercise on Wayfinding Efficacy and Cognition: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

1
Department of Kinesiology & Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
2
Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
3
Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Champaign, IL 61820, USA
4
Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Urbana, IL 61801, USA
5
Illinois Informatics Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Urbana, IL 61801, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
The authors have same contribution.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(18), 3495; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16183495
Submission received: 12 August 2019 / Revised: 9 September 2019 / Accepted: 14 September 2019 / Published: 19 September 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Health Interventions in Everyday Settings)

Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study was to test the feasibility and efficacy of an iPad-enhanced aerobic exercise intervention designed to enhance wayfinding efficacy and performance and relevant cognitive functioning among middle-aged adults at risk for cognitive impairment. Twenty-seven low active adults (21 females) aged 45 to 62 years (51.22 ± 5.20) participated in a ten-week randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomized to an iPad-enhanced aerobic exercise group (experimental group) or an aerobic exercise-only group (control group) following baseline assessment. Both groups exercised at 50% to 75% of age-predicted heart rate maximum for 30 to 50 min/d, 2 d/wk for 10 weeks. During aerobic exercise, the experimental group engaged in virtual tours delivered via iPad. Baseline and post-intervention assessments of wayfinding self-efficacy, wayfinding task performance, cognitive functioning, electroencephalogram (EEG), and psychosocial questionnaires were administered. The results suggest that ten weeks of iPad-enhanced, moderately intense aerobic exercise had specific effects on wayfinding self-efficacy; however, no statistical differences were found between groups on the behavioral wayfinding task or spatial memory performance at follow-up. Performance scores on an inhibitory attentional-control cognitive assessment revealed significant differences between groups, favoring the experimental group (p < 0.05). Virtual reality-enhanced aerobic exercise may prove to be an effective method for improving cognitive function and increasing confidence to navigate real-world scenarios among individuals at risk of cognitive impairment.
Keywords: mHealth; life-space use; self-efficacy; cognitive function; physical activity mHealth; life-space use; self-efficacy; cognitive function; physical activity

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Palac, D.; Bullard, T.; Cohen, J.D.; Nguyen, L.T.; Mudar, R.A.; Mullen, S.P. Effects of Traditional vs. iPad-Enhanced Aerobic Exercise on Wayfinding Efficacy and Cognition: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 3495. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16183495

AMA Style

Palac D, Bullard T, Cohen JD, Nguyen LT, Mudar RA, Mullen SP. Effects of Traditional vs. iPad-Enhanced Aerobic Exercise on Wayfinding Efficacy and Cognition: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16(18):3495. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16183495

Chicago/Turabian Style

Palac, Daniel, Tiffany Bullard, Jason D. Cohen, Lydia T. Nguyen, Raksha A. Mudar, and Sean P. Mullen. 2019. "Effects of Traditional vs. iPad-Enhanced Aerobic Exercise on Wayfinding Efficacy and Cognition: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 18: 3495. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16183495

APA Style

Palac, D., Bullard, T., Cohen, J. D., Nguyen, L. T., Mudar, R. A., & Mullen, S. P. (2019). Effects of Traditional vs. iPad-Enhanced Aerobic Exercise on Wayfinding Efficacy and Cognition: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(18), 3495. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16183495

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop