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Effects of Square-Stepping Exercise on cognitive function in early geriatric rehabilitation: A randomized controlled
Katja Fränzel1,2, Jessica Koschate-Storm2,3, Ellen Freiberger4
1Department of Geriatrics, General Hospital Bremerhaven Reinkenheide gGmbH, Bremerhaven, Germany.
Plos One
|January 6, 2026
Summary
Square-Stepping Exercise (SSE) combined with conventional physiotherapy (cPT) showed similar cognitive improvements in geriatric patients compared to cPT alone. SSE can be a motivational addition to early geriatric rehabilitation programs.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Rehabilitation
- Cognitive Function
- Exercise Interventions
Background:
- Early geriatric rehabilitation aims to improve patient outcomes.
- Cognitive decline is common in older adults and impacts rehabilitation.
- Square-Stepping Exercise (SSE) is a novel intervention for geriatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of SSE on cognitive function in early geriatric rehabilitation.
- To compare SSE's cognitive impact against conventional physiotherapy (cPT).
- To investigate SSE's specific effects on executive functions.
Main Methods:
- Explorative study with 58 geriatric inpatients (median age 79.1).
- Randomized controlled trial comparing SSE intervention group (IG) with a control group (CG) receiving cPT.
- Cognitive function assessed using the Test Battery for Attentional Performance (TAP) and digit span test.
Main Results:
- Both groups showed significant improvements in divided attention and flexibility tasks.
- No specific training effect of SSE on executive functions was observed.
- No significant improvement in memory function was noted for either group.
Conclusions:
- SSE combined with cPT yielded similar cognitive improvements as cPT alone in early geriatric rehabilitation.
- SSE can serve as a supplementary, potentially more motivational, component in geriatric rehabilitation.
- Further research may explore SSE's long-term effects and motivational aspects.
