The difference of gait characteristic according to the variety of dual tasks in young healthy adults

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Walking in daily life is often accompanied by an attention-demanding task, which requires a different attentional load and external environments. Therefore, various gaits require complex and systematic interactions between several nervous systems, such as sensory association, cognitive functions, and the musculoskeletal system.

OBJECTIVE:

Dual-task conditions during gait can affect the interaction between cognitive processing and motor behavior. This study investigated the effect of two types of cognitive dual tasks and one type of manual dual task (MDT) on kinematic and spatiotemporal parameters of gait in young healthy adults.

METHODS:

We recruited 30 healthy young adults in this study. All participants performed normal gait, and two types of cognitive tasks (subtraction dual task, SDT; and working memory dual task, WMDT) and MDT (carrying a cup filled with water) during gait. This study assessed kinematic data during the stance and swing phases and spatiotemporal parameters.

RESULTS:

MDT gait showed a significant decrement of hip-joint movement during the stance phase compared to the normal gait (p < 0.05). Stride velocity significantly decreased during SDT and WMDT gait compared with the normal gait (p < 0.05). MDT gait showed significant decrement of all spatiotemporal parameters of gait compared with normal gait (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

We reported that MDT gait can induce decreased hip-joint motion during the stance phase and reduced all spatiotemporal parameters to maintain balance and reduce the risk of falling. Therefore, motor dual tasks while walking would be useful as an intervention strategy to rehabilitate or train people at risk for falling.