Effect of High-intensity Functional Training on Visuospatial Working Memory in Middle-aged Adults: A Pilot Study
Published: June 1, 2026 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2026/87628.23495
Abhishek Aaryan, Nidhi Sharma, Prashant Kumar, Sandhya Saini, Abhay Sharma
1. Postgraduate Student, Department of Physiotherapy, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, India.
2. Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Amity Institute of Health Allied Sciences, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.
3. Postgraduate Student, Department of Physiotherapy, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, India.
4. Postgraduate Student, Department of Physiotherapy, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, India.
5. Postgraduate Student, Department of Physiotherapy, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, India.
Correspondence
Dr. Nidhi Sharma,
Sector-125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.
E-mail: sharmanidhiphysio@gmail.com
Introduction: Visuospatial working memory is a key cognitive domain that shows subtle decline with age. While aerobic exercise has demonstrated cognitive benefits, evidence on the effects of High-intensity Functional Training (HIFT) on Visuospatial Working Memory (VSWM) in middle-aged adults remains limited.
Aim: To evaluate the effect of a 6-week HIFT program on VSWM storage and executive updating in healthy middle-aged adults.
Materials and Methods: The present single-arm pre-post pilot study was conducted at Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be Uni-versity), Mullana-Ambala, Haryana, India, between August and December 2025. Seventy-two healthy adults (36 males, 36 females), aged 35-50 years, underwent a supervised HIFT (5 sessions/week for 6 weeks). VSWM was assessed at baseline and post-intervention using the Corsi Block-Tapping Task (memory span) and a Visuospatial 2-back task (updating), with sensitivity index (d') and Reaction Time (RT) as outcome measures. Data were analysed using paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test with effect size estima-tion.
Results: The median Corsi span increased from 4.0 to 5.0 (p<0.001; r=0.86). On the 2-back task, sensitivity (d') improved from 2.36±0.52 to 2.84±0.48 (p<0.001; d=0.68), and RT decreased from 612±95 ms to 558±82 ms (p<0.001; d=0.61).
Conclusion: A 6-week HIFT program was associated with improvements in both storage and execu-tive components of VSWM in middle-aged adults. These findings are preliminary and should be interpreted cautiously due to the single-arm design. HIFT may represent a time-efficient exercise strategy with po-tential cognitive benefits in middle adulthood.
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