Ct
Ct has been studied in 12 papers since 1997: 6 trials and 1 observational study in people, 5 reviews; 3 in the past year. The newest paper, Feb 11, 2026: “Cortical hemodynamic responses in older stroke patients during a walking-based Stroop dual task: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study”.
12 papers study it14 findingsUpdated
At a glance
The findings reach people, from one lab or study. 5 independent labs in 5 countries.
“This study confirms the positive effects of CT and PT in mitigating the cognitive decline in MCI and AD patients”
2 of its findings point the other way.
- 5 independent labs in 5 countries
- 2 findings against
- Funders: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and 4 more
- Human trial6
- Humans1
Studies in people
4 studies gave ct to people and measured what changed.
| What changed | Design | People | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
down: Decreases perceived exertion4.4 ± 0.8 vs. 5.6 ± 0.8 a.u. no change: Has no effect on maximal voluntary contraction no change: Has no effect on balance | Randomized trial6 weeks | 21 peopleBothaged between 40 and 70 yearsAdults recruited via social media and newspaper announces | Frontiers in sports and active living, Aug 25, 2022 |
| Randomized trial4 weeks | 18 peopleolder adultsOlder adults; ambulatory older adults without airflow limitations | Lung, Jan 20, 2022 | |
down: Prevents cognitive decline up: Increases memory+8.5% | Randomized trial6 months | 87 peoplePatients with MCI and AD | Aging, May 24, 2019 |
| Randomized trial2 years | 84 peopleWomenPostmenopausal women; postmenopausal osteopenia; placebo plus CT | The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, Apr 1, 1997 |
What did studies of ct find?
11Studies of ct measured 11 outcomes; the most studied are balance (1 study), maximal voluntary contraction (1) and perceived exertion (1).
Balance
no changein humans1upin humans1
1 study
Balance
no changein humans1upin humans1
Ct showed no clear effect on balance in humans.
“YBT revealed no significant mode × time interaction effect [F(1, 19) = 1.776, p = 0.198, ηp2 = 0.085].”
Human trial6 weeksn = 21
Frontiers in sports and active living
Ct improves balance in humans.
“Both CT and TRT led to similar adaptations in MVC and balance performance.”
Human trialbodyweight exercises6 weeksn = 21
Frontiers in sports and active living
Maximal voluntary contraction
no changein humans1upin humans1
1 study
Maximal voluntary contraction
no changein humans1upin humans1
Ct showed no clear effect on maximal voluntary contraction in humans.
“For both LP and AP no significant mode × time interaction effect [F(1, 19) = 4.225, p = 0.054, ηp2 = 0.182 and F(1, 19) = 0.043, p = 0.839, ηp2 = 0.002, respectively], but significant and large main effects for time were observed [F(1, 19) = 14.483, p = 0.001, ηp2 = 0.433 and F(1, 19) = 30.364, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.615, respectively”
Human trial6 weeksn = 21
Frontiers in sports and active living
Ct improves maximal voluntary contraction in humans.
“Both CT and TRT led to similar adaptations in MVC and balance performance.”
Human trialbodyweight exercises6 weeksn = 21
Frontiers in sports and active living
Perceived exertion
downin humans1
1 study
Perceived exertion
downin humans1
Ct decreases perceived exertion in humans (4.4 ± 0.8 vs. 5.6 ± 0.8 a.u.).
“There was a significant effect for mean sRPE, with CT rating perceived effort lower than TRT [4.4 ± 0.8 vs. 5.6 ± 0.8 a.u., t(19) = −3.569, p = 0.002, SMD = 1.560].”
Human trial6 weeksn = 21
Frontiers in sports and active living
Ct decreases perceived exertion in humans.
“CT showed lower sRPE than TRT.”
Human trialbodyweight exercises6 weeksn = 21
Frontiers in sports and active living
Lower-limb explosive power performance
upin humans1
1 study
Lower-limb explosive power performance
upin humans1
Ct improves lower-limb explosive power performance in humans (SMD = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.50).
“CT demonstrated a small effect size on lower-limb explosive power performance compared with TT (SMD = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.07 ~ 0.50, p = 0.01)”
Review
BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation
Jumping performance
no changein humans1
1 study
Jumping performance
no changein humans1
Ct showed no clear effect on jumping performance in humans (SMD = 0.20, 95% CI: -0.07 to 0.47).
“jumping performance (SMD = 0.20, 95% CI: − 0.07 ~ 0.47, p = 0.14)”
Review
BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation
Lower limb muscle strength
no changein humans1
1 study
Lower limb muscle strength
no changein humans1
Ct showed no clear effect on lower limb muscle strength in humans (SMD = -0.06, 95% CI: -0.29 to 0.17).
“no statistically significant difference between CT and TT in lower-limb muscle strength (SMD = -0.06; 95% CI: -0.29 ~ 0.17; p = 0.59)”
Review
BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation
Cough peak flow
upin humans1
1 study
Cough peak flow
upin humans1
Ct improves cough peak flow in humans (ambulatory older adults without airflow limitations).
“At the 4-week follow-up, the CT group showed significant increases in cough peak flow and forced vital capacity compared with the control group”
Human trialambulatory older adults without airflow limitations4 weeksn = 18
Lung
Memory
upin humans1+8.5%
1 study
Memory
upin humans1+8.5%
Ct increases memory in humans (patients with MCI) (+8.5%).
“Memory was increased in patients with MCI assigned to PT (+6.9%) and CT (+8.5%).”
Human trialpatients with MCI6 months
Comparison between physical and cognitive treatment in patients with MCI and Alzheimer's disease
Aging
Cognitive decline
downin humans1
1 study
Cognitive decline
downin humans1
Ct prevents cognitive decline in humans (patients with MCI and AD).
“This study confirms the positive effects of CT and PT in mitigating the cognitive decline in MCI and AD patients”
Human trialpatients with MCI and AD6 months
Comparison between physical and cognitive treatment in patients with MCI and Alzheimer's disease
Aging
Spatio-temporal gait parameters
no changein humans1
1 study
Spatio-temporal gait parameters
no changein humans1
Ct showed no clear effect on spatio-temporal gait parameters in humans (patients with Alzheimer's disease).
“The effect on gait parameters were undetectable in the 18 patients assigned to CT”
Human trialpatients with Alzheimer's diseasecognitive stimuli90 min per session6 monthsn = 18
Exercise Training on Locomotion in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Feasibility Study
Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD
Total hip bone mineral density
upin humans1
1 study
Total hip bone mineral density
upin humans1
Ct increases total hip bone mineral density in humans (postmenopausal osteopenia; placebo plus CT) (+1–2%).
“Significant increases in total hip BMD of 1-2% were observed for the GH plus placebo and placebo plus CT groups”
Human trialpostmenopausal osteopenia; placebo plus CThip100 U/day2 yearsfemales
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism