Effects of square-stepping exercise on executive function in individuals with Parkinson's disease: A randomized controlled pilot study

With the aging population, the incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD) increases over time. In this study, a popular and interesting exercise called the square-stepping exercise (SSE) was chosen as an intervention for people with PD. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of SSE on cognitive function, especially executive function. Twenty-eight participants were recruited and randomly assigned to the experimental group (n=14) or the control group (n=14). The duration of the intervention for both groups was 8 weeks, twice a week. The outcomes, including the trail making test, the digit span task, the Montreal cognitive assessment, and the Parkinson's disease questionnaire, were evaluated before the intervention, after the intervention, and at 1-month follow-up. The results showed that executive function improved significantly on the digit span task after SSE training. Consequently, SSE could be an effective intervention to improve executive function in people with PD.