Effects of Structured Resisted Exercises on Cognition Level Among Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of structured resistance exercises on cognition level among patients with mild cognitive impairment. Methods: A quasi experimental trial was conducted on thirty patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from September 2020 to February 2021 at Ibn e Siena hospital, Multan. The total sample was randomly divided into two equal groups containing fifteen patients each; Group-A (Conventional pharmacological treatment) and Group-B (Resisted exercises). Group-A participants were treated with conventional pharmacological treatment cholinesterase inhibitors along with regular physical exercise while Group-B participants were treated with resistance exercises along with conventional pharmacological treatment. The standardized tools were used for data collection including Standardized mini mental state examination (SMMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MOCA), Trial making test A (TMT-A) and Trial making test B (TMT-B). Data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS 21. Results: Independent samples T-test showed statistically significant difference after intervention for measures of cognitive performance. There was significant difference (p<0.01) between pre and post intervention score of SMMSE (20.60 ± 1.75 and 23.20 ± 1.69) and MOCA (17.60 ± 1.35 and 21.93 ± 1.57). There was also significant difference between (p<0.01) pre and post intervention score of TMT-A (1.47 ± 0.34 & 1.23 ± 0.04) and TMT-B (2.51 ± 0.04 and 2.08 ± 0.04). Conclusion: Resistance exercises increases the cognitive levels of Mild Cognitive impairment patients. Key Words: Cognitive dysfunction, Exercises, Dementia.