Changes of Gait Variability by the Attention Demanding Task in Elderly Adults

Yeo, Sang Seok

Abstract

PURPOSE
Gait variability is defined as the intrinsic fluctuations which occur during continuous gait cycles. Increased gait variability is closely associated with increased fall risk in older adults. This study investigated the influence of attention-demanding tasks on gait variability in elderly healthy adults.
METHODS
We recruited 15 healthy elderly adults in this study. All participants performed two cognitive tasks: a subtraction dual-task (SDT) and working memory dual-task (WMDT) during gait plus one normal gait. Using the LEGSys+ system, we measured the coefficient of variation (CV %=100Ã—[standard deviation/mean]) for participants' stride time, stride length, and stride velocity.
RESULTS
SDT gait showed significant increment of stride time variability compared with usual gait (p < 0.05), however, stride length and velocity variability did not difference between SDT gait and usual gait (p>0.05). WMDT gait showed significant increment of stride time and velocity variability compared with usual gait (p < 0.05). In addition, stride time variability during WMDT gait also significantly increased compared with SDT gait (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
We reported that SDT and WMDT gait can induce the increment of the gait variability in elderly adults. We assume that attention demanding task based on working memory has the most influence on the interference between cognitive and gait function. Understanding the changes during dual task gait in older ages would be helpful for physical intervention strategies and improved risk assessment.