Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Learning Outcomes

Effect of Single Session Aerobic Exercise on Learning Outcomes of Students in Practical Courses: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Most studies have reported that physical activity positively affects memory, observation, problem-solving, decision-making, and specific skills (e.g., reading and mathematics). From an acute perspective, a single exercise session performed before, during, and after a learning task has been shown to improve various memory and executive functions (e.g., decision-making, goal planning, task switching). A meta-analysis indicated that exercise performed close to learning tasks enhances short-term memory (e.g., information that disappears within a few seconds) and long-term memory (e.g., information recalled after long time delays). Practical training is necessary in physiotherapy education programs. Practical training includes laboratory work at school, profession-related projects, and clinical internships. Practical work learning prepares students for their profession, job roles, and professional identity. Furthermore, increasing practical applications, such as assessment and practice on models, will also enhance problem-based learning. Therefore, new approaches that enhance learning in practical training in the field of physiotherapy and rehabilitation may contribute to the development of knowledgeable and qualified physiotherapists.

In this context, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of a single session of aerobic exercise before a lecture on pelvic floor rehabilitation, which includes practical methods, on the learning outcomes of the course.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Education; Pelvic Floor; Student; Aerobic Exercises; Learning Outcome; Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Education; Other: Education and Aerobic exercise

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Balçova
    • İzmir, Balçova, Turkey, 35330
      • Izmir University of Economics

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being a Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation student
• Not having taken a course/training on pelvic floor rehabilitation,
• Being between the ages of 18-22,
• Being a volunteer,
• Being literate in Turkish.

Exclusion criteria:

• Those with a high metabolic aerobic threshold according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (3000 METs and above),
• Students who answered "Yes" to any of the 7 questions in the General Health Questions section of the Exercise Readiness for All Questionnaire,
• Those with a history of neurological disease or epilepsy,
• Those with problems that prevent participation in exercise such as hypertension or other cardiovascular diseases.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Education group; Participants in this group will receive 40 minutes of both theoretical and practical education.	Other: Education; Students in both groups will be given 40 minutes of both theoretical and practical training on the anatomy of the pelvic floor, its contraction mechanism, function and dysfunctions, evaluation and physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Theoretical training will be given through presentation and question-answer techniques containing this information, and practical training will be given through a pelvic model and gynecological examination simulator.
Experimental: Education and Aerobic exercise group; Participants in the exercise group will undergo an aerobic exercise program Following the exercise, participants will receive 40 minutes of both theoretical and practical education.	Other: Education and Aerobic exercise; Participants in the exercise group will undergo an aerobic exercise program using the Monark 938E Nova Ergometer and software before the training session. The bike operates with its computer software integrated with the ECG system. The aerobic exercise program will consist of 3-5 minutes of warm-up, 20 minutes of exercise, and 3-5 minutes of cool-down, performed at a moderate intensity. During the exercise session, heart rate will be recorded every 5 minutes using a Polar ECG sensor connected via Bluetooth to the 938E Nova Ergometer, while perceived exertion will be measured using Borg's 6-20 rating scale

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Pelvic Floor Health Knowledge Test score	The Pelvic Floor Health Knowledge Test (PFHKT) will be used to assess the pelvic floor knowledge level of the students participating in the study. The PFHKT was developed by Çelenay Toprak, and its Turkish validity was assessed through face validity, content validity, and construct validity analyses. The PFHKT, designed to measure participants; knowledge of pelvic floor health, consists of 29 items. The test uses a dichotomous scoring system where correct answers are scored as 1; and incorrect or unknown answers are scored 0. The minimum score is 0; and the maximum score is 29. As the score increases, the individuals knowledge of pelvic floor health also increases.	1 week after the intervention
Change in Pelvic Floor Health Knowledge Test score	The Pelvic Floor Health Knowledge Test (PFHKT) will be used to assess the pelvic floor knowledge level of the students participating in the study. The PFHKT was developed by Çelenay Toprak, and its Turkish validity was assessed through face validity, content validity, and construct validity analyses. The PFHKT, designed to measure participants; knowledge of pelvic floor health, consists of 29 items. The test uses a dichotomous scoring system where correct answers are scored as 1; and incorrect or unknown answers are scored 0. The minimum score is 0; and the maximum score is 29. As the score increases, the individuals knowledge of pelvic floor health also increases.	after the intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Evaluation of 10 points determined on the pelvis model	Ten points will be marked on the pelvic model, and participants will be asked to correctly write the specified points.	at baseline
Evaluation of 10 points determined on the pelvis model	Ten points will be marked on the pelvic model, and participants will be asked to correctly write the specified points.	after the intervention
Evaluation of 10 points determined on the pelvis model	Ten points will be marked on the pelvic model, and participants will be asked to correctly write the specified points.	1 week after the intervention
Evaluation of digital palpation on the model	Digital palpation will be evaluated on the gynecological examination simulator (Can and Cannot Apply).	at baseline
Evaluation of digital palpation on the model	Digital palpation will be evaluated on the gynecological examination simulator (Can and Cannot Apply).	after the intervention
Evaluation of digital palpation on the model	Digital palpation will be evaluated on the gynecological examination simulator (Can and Cannot Apply).	1 week after the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Izmir University of Economics

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): May 10, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 28, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 28, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): October 1, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 15, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 14, 2025
• Last Verified: October 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: SYY 4

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No