Witte Kerstin, Kropf Siegfried, Darius Sabine, Emmermacher Peter, Böckelmann Irina
Department of Sport Science, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg 39104, Germany.
Department for Biometrics and Medical Informatics, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg 39120, Germany.
J Sport Health Sci. 2016 Dec;5(4):484-490. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2015.09.006. Epub 2015 Sep 21.
Recent studies demonstrate a slowdown in deterioration of cognitive functioning in old age through aerobic training. There is evidence that the combination of aerobic, balance, and coordination exercises leads to an improvement or maintenance of cognitive functions. Such age-related exercises can especially be found in East Asian martial arts. The purpose of the current study is to verify whether karate training for older adults improves cognitive functioning and, if an improvement can be found, which cognitive fields are influenced.
Eighty-nine older women and men (mean age: 70 years) participated in this study. The participants were randomized into 2 intervention groups (karate group and fitness group, duration of intervention: 5 months) and a control group. All participants had to accomplish a cognitive test battery before and after the intervention. In a secondary study the karate group had an additional intervention for another 5 months.
The results show that there is a significant improvement in motor reactivity, stress tolerance, and divided attention only after the 5-month karate training period. Additionally, the results of the secondary study indicate further improvements after 10 months.
The 5-month karate training can help to enhance attention, resilience, and motor reaction time, but a training period of 10 months is even more efficient.
近期研究表明，通过有氧训练可减缓老年人认知功能的衰退。有证据表明，有氧、平衡和协调练习相结合能改善或维持认知功能。此类与年龄相关的练习在东亚武术中尤为常见。本研究的目的是验证针对老年人的空手道训练是否能改善认知功能，以及如果能发现改善，哪些认知领域会受到影响。
八十九名老年女性和男性（平均年龄：70岁）参与了本研究。参与者被随机分为2个干预组（空手道组和健身组，干预时长：5个月）和1个对照组。所有参与者在干预前后都必须完成一组认知测试。在一项次要研究中，空手道组又进行了另外5个月的干预。
结果显示，仅在为期5个月的空手道训练期后，运动反应性、压力耐受性和注意力分散方面有显著改善。此外，次要研究的结果表明，10个月后有进一步改善。
为期5个月的空手道训练有助于提高注意力、恢复力和运动反应时间，但10个月的训练期效果更佳。
