High-Amplitude Functional Exercises in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment
August 9, 2026 updated by: Yunus Emre Tutuneken, Istinye University
Effects of Dual-Task-Based High-Amplitude Functional Exercises on Balance and Functional Mobility in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment
This study will investigate the effects of dual-task-based high-amplitude functional exercises on balance and functional mobility in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
A total of 36 participants aged 65 years and older will be randomly assigned to either a high-amplitude functional exercise group or a traditional balance and mobility exercise group.
Both groups will participate in exercise sessions four times per week for four weeks, with each session lasting 60 minutes.
The effects of the exercise programs will be evaluated by assessing balance, functional mobility, dual-task performance, walking performance, fear of falling, and independence in daily activities before and after the intervention.
Study Overview
Status
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Study Type
Interventional
Enrollment (Estimated)
36
Phase
- Not Applicable
Participation Criteria
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
- Older Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Living independently/actively in a nursing home.
- Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) based on a standardized screening test, with a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score of 18-25.
- Ability to walk independently for at least 10 meters without an assistive device or with only a cane/single-point support.
- Sufficient vision and hearing capacity to follow dual-task instructions and exercise directions, which may be corrected with glasses or hearing aids.
- Stable medical condition that does not prevent participation in the exercise program throughout the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of dementia or severe cognitive impairment based on cognitive screening (MoCA <17).
- Neurological conditions that primarily affect balance, such as Parkinson's disease, residual effects of stroke, multiple sclerosis, or cerebellar ataxia.
- Severe osteoarthritis, active inflammatory joint disease, or a history of major orthopedic surgery within the previous 6 months that could limit exercise performance.
- Uncontrolled hypertension, heart failure (NYHA Class III-IV), or cardiopulmonary instability causing symptoms during exercise.
- Advanced vestibular pathology or severe loss of proprioception in the lower extremities that could be the primary cause of balance impairment.
Study Plan
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Treatment
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: Single
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: Dual-Task-Based High-Amplitude Functional Exercise
|
Participants will receive a dual-task-based high-amplitude functional exercise program consisting of high-amplitude functional movements combined with progressively challenging cognitive tasks.
The program will be administered 4 times per week for 4 weeks, for a total of 16 sessions, with each session lasting 60 minutes.
Exercise intensity will be prescribed as maximal effort, corresponding to 7-8/10 on the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale.
The program will include seated and standing functional exercises, large-amplitude stepping movements, dynamic movements, large-amplitude walking, functional task activities, and complex functional tasks.
|
|
Active Comparator: Traditional Balance and Mobility Exercise
|
Participants will receive a traditional balance and mobility exercise program administered 4 times per week for 4 weeks, for a total of 16 sessions, with each session lasting 60 minutes.
Exercise intensity will be moderate, corresponding to 4-5/10 on the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale.
The program will consist of motor tasks without cognitive dual-task components.
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Dual-Task Timed Up and Go Test
Time Frame: Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
The Dual-Task TUG will assess functional mobility under cognitive load by adding a cognitive task to the standard Timed Up and Go test.
Test performance will be recorded as the time required to complete the task.
|
Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
|
Mini-BESTest
Time Frame: Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
The Mini-BESTest will be used to assess balance performance across anticipatory postural control, reactive postural control, sensory orientation, and dynamic gait.
The scale consists of 14 items scored from 0 to 2, with a maximum total score of 28.
Higher scores indicate better balance performance.
|
Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
|
Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test
Time Frame: Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
The Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test will be used to assess lower-extremity muscle strength and functional capacity.
The time required to complete five full sit-to-stand repetitions will be recorded.
|
Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
|
Timed Up and Go Test (TUG)
Time Frame: Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
The TUG will be used to assess functional mobility and dynamic balance.
|
Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
|
Edinburgh Visual Gait Score
Time Frame: Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
The EVGS will be used to assess gait quality through observational analysis of gait kinematics across different anatomical segments.
|
Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
|
Dual-Task Walking Speed
Time Frame: Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
Walking speed will be measured during a cognitive dual-task condition over a 10-meter walking course and recorded in meters per second.
|
Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
|
Dual-Task Cost
Time Frame: Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
Dual-task cost will be calculated from the TUG performance using the formula.
|
Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
|
Falls Efficacy Scale-International I
Time Frame: Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
The FES-I will be used to assess concerns about falling during daily activities.
Higher scores indicate greater fear of falling.
|
Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
|
Barthel Index
Time Frame: Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
The Barthel Index will be used to assess independence in basic activities of daily living, including eating, bathing, dressing, and transfers.
Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater independence.
|
Baseline to post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
|
Global Change Scale
Time Frame: Post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
The Global Change Scale will be used to assess participants' perceived change following the intervention.
Participants will rate perceived change from -5 (much worse) to +5 (much better).
|
Post-intervention (4 weeks)
|
Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
Sponsor
Study record dates
These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Estimated)
August 20, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
April 5, 2027
Study Completion (Estimated)
April 5, 2027
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
August 9, 2026
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
August 9, 2026
First Posted (Actual)
August 13, 2026
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
August 13, 2026
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
August 9, 2026
Last Verified
August 1, 2026
More Information
Terms related to this study
Keywords
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- 104
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
No
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