Papers

Peer-reviewed International journal
Aug, 2019

Changes in step time variability, not changes in step length and width, are associated with lower-trunk sway during dual-task gait in older adults.

Human movement science
  • Tsuyoshi Asai
  • ,
  • Kensuke Oshima
  • ,
  • Yoshihiro Fukumoto
  • ,
  • Hiroki Kubo
  • ,
  • Shota Koyama
  • ,
  • Shogo Misu

Volume
66
Number
First page
157
Last page
163
Language
English
Publishing type
Research paper (scientific journal)
DOI
10.1016/j.humov.2019.04.008

Individuals are exposed to repetitive dual-task-like situations in daily life, particularly while walking, and falls among community-dwelling older adults typically occur in such situations. Thus, understanding how individuals adapt their walking-related motion under dual-task conditions is of clinical importance. The present study was conducted to investigate the association between dual-task-related changes (DT-changes) in lower-limb gait parameters and DT-changes in lower-trunk sway. We hypothesized that DT-changes in both spatial- and temporal-lower-limb gait parameters would be associated with DT-changes in lower-trunk sway. Participants were older adults aged > 60 years who lived independently in communities (n = 43, 73.7 [6.1] years old), and younger adults (n = 28, 22.7 [5.1] years old). Participants were asked to walk while performing an additional cognitive task, or with no additional task. During walking, lower-limb gait parameters (step time, step length and width) and lower-trunk sway were measured using a photoelectric cell system and inertial sensors. In older adults, DT-changes in step time variability was significantly associated with DT-changes in lower-trunk sway (standard beta = 0.683, p = 0.003), and DT-changes in lower-trunk sway variability (standard beta = 0.493, p = 0.029). In younger adults, DT-changes in step width were significantly associated with DT-changes in lower-trunk sway (standard beta = 0.395, p = 0.041). The current results partially supported our hypotheses. The association between DT-changes in lower limb and DT-changes in lower-trunk sway varied according to age group.

Link information
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2019.04.008
PubMed
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31029837
ID information
  • DOI : 10.1016/j.humov.2019.04.008
  • ISSN : 0167-9457
  • Pubmed ID : 31029837

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