Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 19, 2025
Orienteering as a Tool for Cognitive Research: An Implementation Guide
Published on: November 29, 2024
The effectiveness of orienteering exercise on improving physical fitness and cognitive functions in non-athletes: a
Hsin-Yen Yen1, Hao-Yun Huang2, Tzu-Yu Lin3
1School of Gerontology and Long-Term Care, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Objectives:
Orienteering exercise combines physical and cognitive function training, but its interventional effects remain unclear. Hence, in this study, we examined the effectiveness of orienteering exercise interventions in improving physical fitness and cognitive functions by a systematic review, meta-analyses, subgroup analyses, and meta-regression.
Study Design:
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Methods:
Nine electronic databases were searched in September 2024; after evaluation, 1360 studies were initially selected, but only ten studies were ultimately included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Random-effect models were used for all analyses.
Results:
The meta-analytical results revealed significant large effects of orienteering exercise interventions on physical fitness and memory, and a medium effect on spatial skills in all included studies. Results of the moderator analysis showed a significant difference in attention improvement across all moderators, including the study design, population, teaching experiments, and various orientation types. Regarding orientation types of interventions, the introductory teaching strategy showed a significantly better effect on physical fitness, and memory training strategies showed a significantly better effect on attention.
Conclusions:
The effects of orienteering exercise interventions on improving physical fitness and cognitive functions are promising. Orienteering exercise interventions are recommended for all age groups across various settings, including in schools for children and adolescents and in community settings for older adults. Additionally, a well-designed and identified intervention course could be a valuable resource for health-promotion scholars and policymakers.
More Related Videos
07:01Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
10:19Getting to Compliance in Forced Exercise in Rodents: A Critical Standard to Evaluate Exercise Impact in Aging-related Disorders and Disease
Published on: August 22, 2014
Related Concept Videos
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:25Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques III
The Role of Exercise in Stress Management
Regular physical activity is essential for reducing stress and promoting cardiovascular health. Exercise strengthens the heart, enhances blood flow, keeps blood vessels flexible, and helps lower blood pressure, all of which reduce the body's stress response. Research shows that adults who exercise regularly have nearly half the...