Clinical Research Directory

Effects of Light Intensity Physical Activities on Pre-frontal Cortical Activation, Cognitive Function, Sleepiness and Back Pain

The objective of this randomised controlled trial is to examine the acute effects of two novel light intensity exercise (sit-cycling and stand-twisting) on prefrontal cortical blood oxygenation, executive functioning, sleepiness and back pain among inactive university students. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What are the changes in oxygenated haemoglobin (O2Hb) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb) levels in the prefrontal cortex from baseline to immediately after and 20 minutes after a 5-min bout of S-C and S-T compared to sitting for the same duration? * What are the changes in executive functioning, specifically, n-back test and Word Colour Stroop test performance from baseline to immediately after and 20 minutes after a bout of S-C and S-T compared to sitting for the same duration? * How does participants' self-rated daytime sleepiness and back pain after a bout of S-C and S-T compare to sitting for the same duration? Participants will: * Perform sit-cycling or stand-twisting for 5 mins (experimental condition) and sit for 5 mins (control condition) * Wear the functional near-infrared spectroscopy cap on their head throughout the measurements * Complete 1-back, 2-back test and Word Colour Stroop before, immediately after and 20 minutes after experimental/ control condition * Have their blood pressure, heart rate taken by a smartwatch * Complete a daytime sleepiness questionnaire and a back pain questionnaire