Overview
This observational study will aim to investigate the effects of cigarette addiction on lower extremity motor coordination and movement speed in young adults. The study will include healthy participants aged 18-25 years, divided into smokers and non-smokers. Motor coordination will be assessed using the Lower Extremity Motor Coordination Test (LEMOCOT), and speed will be evaluated with a 30-meter sprint test. Nicotine dependence will be evaluated in smokers using the Fagerström Test. The findings will provide insight into the possible functional impacts of nicotine addiction on motor performance.
Description
The study will be conducted as a non-randomized controlled observational trial at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. A total of 24 healthy young adults (12 smokers, 12 non-smokers) will participate. The inclusion criteria will require participants to be aged 18-25, cooperative, literate, and able to walk independently. Participants will be categorized as smokers based on WHO and DSM-IV-TR criteria. The primary assessments will include LEMOCOT and 30-meter sprint test. Nicotine addiction will be measured using the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), and anthropometric data including BMI and bimalleolar diameter will also be recorded. Data will be analyzed to determine any statistical differences or correlations between smoking status and motor performance outcomes.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria (for both groups):
- Age between 18 and 25 years
- Able to walk independently
- Literate and cooperative
- Willing to participate voluntarily
- BMI between 18.5 and 29.9 kg/m²
Additional inclusion for smokers:
- Daily smoking for at least one year based on WHO and DSM-IV-TR definitions
- Exclusion Criteria (for all participants):
- Orthopedic, neurologic, or neuromuscular disorders affecting gait
- Chronic cardiopulmonary disease
- Cognitive impairments
- Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²)
Additional exclusion for smokers:
- History of acute cardiovascular events
- Chronic heart failure or lung diseases