Life Kinetic Training Enhances Physical and Cognitive Skills in Young Fencers (LiKT-Fence RCT)

Hellenic Naval Academy

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Behavioral: Life Kinetic Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06781268

2024-434

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study was to examine whether Life Kinetic (LK) exercises could improve balance, agility, jumping performance, proprioception, and cognitive functions in recreationally active preadolescents participating in fencing. It specifically aimed to answer if LK training would lead to significant enhancements in these physical and cognitive attributes compared to a control group.

Full description

This study evaluated the effects of Life Kinetic (LK) training on balance, agility, jumping performance, proprioception, and cognitive functions in preadolescent recreational fencers. A total of 22 participants, aged 11.6 ± 1.2 years, were randomly assigned to either the experimental group, which performed LK exercises twice weekly for eight weeks, or the control group, which continued their regular fencing activities. The LK exercises combined physical and cognitive tasks to stimulate neuroplasticity and improve overall athletic and mental performance. Key metrics included agility, vertical jump, star balance, Stroop test, and proprioception assessments.

Enrollment: 22 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 10 to 12 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Preadolescents aged between 10 and 12 years. Recreationally active in fencing and registered with the same athletic club. Healthy participants with no chronic illnesses, musculoskeletal injuries, or physical limitations in the last six months.

No use of medication within six months prior to the study. Written informed consent provided by the participants and their parents or guardians.

Exclusion criteria

• History of chronic illnesses or conditions that could interfere with physical activity (e.g., asthma, cardiovascular issues).

Any injury or physical limitation in the last six months that could impact performance.

Use of medication that could affect physical or cognitive performance within six months before the study.

Participants outside the specified age range (10-12 years). Lack of parental or participant consent.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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22 participants in 2 patient groups

Life Kinetic Training Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this group engaged in Life Kinetic (LK) exercises twice a week for eight weeks. The training program combined physical and cognitive tasks designed to enhance neuroplasticity, improve balance, agility, jumping performance, proprioception, and cognitive functions. The exercises included activities that stimulated mental and physical coordination, aimed at improving overall athletic and mental performance.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Life Kinetic Training

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in the control group continued their usual recreational fencing training without additional intervention. To match the exposure of the experimental group, they engaged in structured, low-intensity activities unrelated to the objectives of Life Kinetic Training. These activities included light stretching, basic coordination drills, and non-cognitive motor tasks, conducted at the same frequency and duration as the experimental sessions (twice per week for one hour). These activities were designed to simulate a training environment while lacking the cognitive and motor integration components central to the intervention. At the end of the study, participants were fully debriefed about the nature and purpose of their activities, including the rationale for the placebo-like design, as part of the ethical protocol.