ExerciseNCT06331078
Square Step Exercises in Healthy Young Adults
A study testing Square Stepping Exercise training and Aerobic Exercise Training in people with Exercise and Square Step Exercises, run by Fenerbahce University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aims to compare the effectiveness of Square Stepping Exercise and aerobic exercise on cognitive function and physical fitness in young adults. Participants aged 18-30 with low physical activity levels will be randomly assigned to either the Square Stepping Exercise Group or Aerobic Exercise Group. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Exercise, Square Step Exercises, Aerobic Exercise
- What is being tested?
- Square Stepping Exercise training and Aerobic Exercise Training
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Dec 2025to 1 Dec 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- International Physical Activity Questionnaire score <600 Metabolic Equivalents (METs),
- No neurological or orthopedic problems affecting gait, balance and lower extremities
- No vision or hearing problems, and no history of musculoskeletal surgery.
Who cannot join
- Participants who have pain due to a musculoskeletal problem
- Participants who are continuing another routine exercise program
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Comparison of the Effects of Square Step Exercises and Aerobic Exercise on Cognitive Functions and Physical Fitness in Healthy Young Adults
This study aims to compare the effectiveness of Square Stepping Exercise and aerobic exercise on cognitive function and physical fitness in young adults. Participants aged 18-30 with low physical activity levels will be randomly assigned to either the Square Stepping Exercise Group or Aerobic Exercise Group. Both interventions will be supervised by a physiotherapist, performed twice a week for 40 minutes over 4 weeks. Cognitive function will be assessed using various tests, including attention, short-term memory, and executive function evaluations. Physical fitness will be evaluated through jump tests and balance assessments. Blinded assessors will conduct evaluations at baseline and post-intervention in both groups to determine the impact of square stepping exercise and aerobic exercise on cognitive and physical health in young adults.
- Being tested
- Square Stepping Exercise training, Aerobic Exercise Training
- Medical subject headings
- Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Square Stepping Exercise trainingOther
The experimental group will have Square Stepping Exercise training.
Aerobic Exercise TrainingOther
Individuals in the aerobic control cohort will partake in a treadmill walking session.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Square Stepping Exercise Group | Experimental | The experimental group will have Square Stepping Exercise training twice a week for 4 weeks. Each session will start with a 15-minute warm-up, followed by a 40-minute Square Stepping Exercise workout and ending with a 15-minute cool-down. The Square Stepping Exercise part will start with the Elementary 2 level, which has 30 different patterns. Participants will start with the first pattern at this level. If they can complete it without mistakes within 15 seconds, they'll move on to the next pattern. If not, they'll repeat the pattern until they get it right within the time limit. Each session will have four participants, with two participants working on each of the two mats, which are divided into 40 squares and measure 100cm by 250 cm. Receives: Other: Square Stepping Exercise training |
| Aerobic Exercise Group | Active comparator | Individuals in the aerobic control cohort will partake in a 40-minute treadmill walking session, maintaining their heart rate at 60% of their individual heart rate reserve as calculated using the Karvonen formula. Before and after the aerobic exercise, a 5-minute warm-up session incorporating stretching and calisthenics, as well as a 5-minute cool-down session, will be conducted. Receives: Other: Aerobic Exercise Training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Schulte Grid Test
Schulte Grid Test will be used to evaluate the attention level of the participants. The task involves participants locating and selecting numbers in sequential order within a table filled with random numbers ranging from 1 to 64. Participants are required to find and click the correct numbers in ascending order, with completion time serving as the primary metric for assessment. Once a participant selects the correct number "1," the corresponding box will illuminate in green, prompting the participant to locate and select "2," and so forth until reaching "64." The test concludes upon successfully clicking the last number in the sequence. Schulte grid test will be conducted on a 15.6-inch laptop screen. A shorter reaction and completion time for the test will show good attention.
Measured: Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
Stroop Test
This test will be used to evaluate executive functions, particularly selective attention and cognitive flexibility. In this assessment, participants are tasked with identifying the colors of rectangles, reading color names, and stating the color of color names printed in differing hues. Subsequently, error rates and spontaneous corrections are meticulously recorded and assessed. A shorter completion time and fewer number of errors for the test will show good executive functions.
Measured: Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
Verbal Fluency Test
- Letter Fluency Test: Participants are instructed to count words beginning with the letters K, A, S, and non-numerical characters within one minute, while a voice recording is made. Words not starting with the specified letters and repeated words are tallied as errors/points. It is scored on the number of words derived. Repetition of the same word is considered as perseveration
- Category Fluency Test: Participants are prompted to enumerate names of animals, fruits, and objects purchasable from the market within one minute, with a voice recording taken. Words falling outside the designated categories and repetitions are logged as error count/score. Total score based on the number of groups formed by the individual in one minute points are awarded. The more groups the individual has made, the more points individual gets.
In this study, these tests will be utilized to assess information processing speed and attention as part of executive functions.
Measured: Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
Digit Span Test
The test consists of two parts. Part One is Digits Forward and Part Two is Digits Backward. In both tests administered separately, random numbers are read to the participants at one-second intervals. The norm value of the Digits Forward is 7, while the norm value of the Digits Backward is 5; results below these values indicate impaired attention.
Measured: Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
Vertical jump test
This test will be used for physical fitness assessment. During the assessment, the participant positions themselves adjacent to a wall. Using one arm, they extend upwards without bending, making contact with a wall marked in centimeters (cm). This measurement is then recorded. Following this, the participant is directed to perform a maximal force jump, aiming to touch the highest point achievable. This process is repeated thrice, with a 60-second rest interval between each jump. The highest value attained among the three jumps is documented in centimeters.
Measured: Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
Horizontal jump test
In the assessment of horizontal jump, a key component of physical fitness, the standing long jump technique will be utilized. A designated starting line will be marked, with a ruler spanning 3 meters in length fixed at 1-centimeter intervals from the starting point. Participants will assume the starting position, ensuring their feet are not touching the line and are fully grounded, then execute a forward jump using both legs. The distance from the starting line to the point where the participant's feet last touch the ground will be measured. Each participant will perform three jumps, and the best distance achieved will be recorded as the final measurement.
Measured: Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
Y Balance Test
Dynamic balance, an essential component of physical fitness crucial for executing functional tasks and occupational activities, will be evaluated using the Y balance test. This test involves reaching as far forward as possible along anterior, posterolateral, and posteromedial directional lines placed on the ground while maintaining balance on one foot. Participants will be instructed to reach as far as they can in each direction with their raised foot while keeping their hands on their hips. The maximum reach distances achieved in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions will be marked and recorded as three valid measurements for each direction. The key outcome measures of interest will include the reach distances in the three directions as well as the composite score derived from the test.
Measured: Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Mar 2024
- Study start1 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for ExerciseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Fenerbahce University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ezgi Eryildiz, Fenerbahce University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06331078
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 29.02.2024/45
- Status last verified
- Mar 2025
- First submitted
- 19 Mar 2024
- Last updated
- 19 Aug 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Aug 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of the Effects of Square Step Exercises and Aerobic Exercise on Cognitive Functions and Physical Fitness in Healthy Young Adults
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06331078
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 29.02.2024/45
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Fenerbahce UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Dec 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 26 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to compare the effectiveness of Square Stepping Exercise and aerobic exercise on cognitive function and physical fitness in young adults. Participants aged 18-30 with low physical activity levels will be randomly assigned to either the Square Stepping Exercise Group or Aerobic Exercise Group. Both interventions will be supervised by a physiotherapist, performed twice a week for 40 minutes over 4 weeks. Cognitive function will be assessed using various tests, including attention, short-term memory, and executive function evaluations. Physical fitness will be evaluated through jump tests and balance assessments. Blinded assessors will conduct evaluations at baseline and post-intervention in both groups to determine the impact of square stepping exercise and aerobic exercise on cognitive and physical health in young adults.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Square Stepping Exercise Group | Experimental | Other: Square Stepping Exercise trainingThe experimental group will have Square Stepping Exercise training twice a week for 4 weeks. Each session will start with a 15-minute warm-up, followed by a 40-minute Square Stepping Exercise workout and ending with a 15-minute cool-down. The Square Stepping Exercise part will start with the Elementary 2 level, which has 30 different patterns. Participants will start with the first pattern at this level. If they can complete it without mistakes within 15 seconds, they'll move on to the next pattern. If not, they'll repeat the pattern until they get it right within the time limit. Each session will have four participants, with two participants working on each of the two mats, which are divided into 40 squares and measure 100cm by 250 cm. |
| Aerobic Exercise Group | Active comparator | Other: Aerobic Exercise TrainingIndividuals in the aerobic control cohort will partake in a 40-minute treadmill walking session, maintaining their heart rate at 60% of their individual heart rate reserve as calculated using the Karvonen formula. Before and after the aerobic exercise, a 5-minute warm-up session incorporating stretching and calisthenics, as well as a 5-minute cool-down session, will be conducted. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- International Physical Activity Questionnaire score <600 Metabolic Equivalents (METs),
- No neurological or orthopedic problems affecting gait, balance and lower extremities
- No vision or hearing problems, and no history of musculoskeletal surgery.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Participants who have pain due to a musculoskeletal problem
- Participants who are continuing another routine exercise program
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Square Stepping Exercise trainingThe experimental group will have Square Stepping Exercise training. | Other | Square Stepping Exercise Group |
| Aerobic Exercise TrainingIndividuals in the aerobic control cohort will partake in a treadmill walking session. | Other | Aerobic Exercise Group |
Primary outcome
Schulte Grid Test
Time frame: Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
Schulte Grid Test will be used to evaluate the attention level of the participants. The task involves participants locating and selecting numbers in sequential order within a table filled with random numbers ranging from 1 to 64. Participants are required to find and click the correct numbers in ascending order, with completion time serving as the primary metric for assessment. Once a participant selects the correct number "1," the corresponding box will illuminate in green, prompting the participant to locate and select "2," and so forth until reaching "64." The test concludes upon successfully clicking the last number in the sequence. Schulte grid test will be conducted on a 15.6-inch laptop screen. A shorter reaction and completion time for the test will show good attention.
Stroop Test
Time frame: Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
This test will be used to evaluate executive functions, particularly selective attention and cognitive flexibility. In this assessment, participants are tasked with identifying the colors of rectangles, reading color names, and stating the color of color names printed in differing hues. Subsequently, error rates and spontaneous corrections are meticulously recorded and assessed. A shorter completion time and fewer number of errors for the test will show good executive functions.
Verbal Fluency Test
Time frame: Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
1. Letter Fluency Test: Participants are instructed to count words beginning with the letters K, A, S, and non-numerical characters within one minute, while a voice recording is made. Words not starting with the specified letters and repeated words are tallied as errors/points. It is scored on the number of words derived. Repetition of the same word is considered as perseveration 2. Category Fluency Test: Participants are prompted to enumerate names of animals, fruits, and objects purchasable from the market within one minute, with a voice recording taken. Words falling outside the designated categories and repetitions are logged as error count/score. Total score based on the number of groups formed by the individual in one minute points are awarded. The more groups the individual has made, the more points individual gets. In this study, these tests will be utilized to assess information processing speed and attention as part of executive functions.
Digit Span Test
Time frame: Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
The test consists of two parts. Part One is Digits Forward and Part Two is Digits Backward. In both tests administered separately, random numbers are read to the participants at one-second intervals. The norm value of the Digits Forward is 7, while the norm value of the Digits Backward is 5; results below these values indicate impaired attention.
Vertical jump test
Time frame: Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
This test will be used for physical fitness assessment. During the assessment, the participant positions themselves adjacent to a wall. Using one arm, they extend upwards without bending, making contact with a wall marked in centimeters (cm). This measurement is then recorded. Following this, the participant is directed to perform a maximal force jump, aiming to touch the highest point achievable. This process is repeated thrice, with a 60-second rest interval between each jump. The highest value attained among the three jumps is documented in centimeters.
Horizontal jump test
Time frame: Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
In the assessment of horizontal jump, a key component of physical fitness, the standing long jump technique will be utilized. A designated starting line will be marked, with a ruler spanning 3 meters in length fixed at 1-centimeter intervals from the starting point. Participants will assume the starting position, ensuring their feet are not touching the line and are fully grounded, then execute a forward jump using both legs. The distance from the starting line to the point where the participant's feet last touch the ground will be measured. Each participant will perform three jumps, and the best distance achieved will be recorded as the final measurement.
Y Balance Test
Time frame: Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)
Dynamic balance, an essential component of physical fitness crucial for executing functional tasks and occupational activities, will be evaluated using the Y balance test. This test involves reaching as far forward as possible along anterior, posterolateral, and posteromedial directional lines placed on the ground while maintaining balance on one foot. Participants will be instructed to reach as far as they can in each direction with their raised foot while keeping their hands on their hips. The maximum reach distances achieved in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions will be marked and recorded as three valid measurements for each direction. The key outcome measures of interest will include the reach distances in the three directions as well as the composite score derived from the test.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Aug 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Exercise
RecruitingPhase 2
Neurovascular Regulation During Exercise in Humans With Chronic Kidney Disease: Sympatholysis in CKD
Chronic Kidney Disease
Not yet recruiting
Combined Versus Multicomponent Training in People With Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 3a and 3b
Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3A, Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3B
Recruiting
Understanding the Feasibility of a Co-designed Pre-radiotherapy Exercise Programme - A Single-arm Study
Lung Cancer
Not yet recruiting
Integrated Core Stability Exercises and Yoga Program on Premenstrual Syndrome
Premenstrual Syndrome
RecruitingPhase 2
Spironolactone for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Square Stepping Exercise training and Aerobic Exercise Training in people with Exercise and Square Step Exercises, run by Fenerbahce University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Schulte Grid Test (time frame: Baseline and after the interventions (4th week)). The study lists 7 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Aug 2025.