| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Freire Junior, Renato Campos
;
Porto, Jaqueline Mello
;
Marques, Nise Ribeiro
;
Magnani, Paola Errera
;
Carvalho de Abreu, Daniela Cristina
Total Authors: 5
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | HUMAN MOVEMENT SCIENCE; v. 51, p. 146-152, JAN 2017. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 7 |
| Abstract | |
Human gait has been widely investigated under dual-task conditions because it has been demonstrated to be an important way to uncover differences in gait biomechanics between older fallers and non-fallers. However, exactly how simultaneous tasks affect the kinematics of walking remains unclear. In the present study, gait kinematic properties of older fallers and non-fallers were compared under cognitive and motor dual-task conditions. The gait kinematic properties of interest were recorded under three different conditions: walking at preferred speed, walking when performing a cognitive task (naming animals), and walking when performing a motor task (transferring a coin from one pocket to the other). The following variables were analyzed: gait speed, cadence, stride time, step length, single support, stride time variability, and the dual-task cost. In addition, functional balance was evaluated by means of the Balance Evaluation - Systems Test (BESTest). Two-way repeated-measures ANOVAs revealed significant main effects of walking conditions. However, no significant main effects of group (fallers vs. non-fallers) and no significant interaction effects between group and walking condition were observed. The BESTest revealed that functional balance in fallers was worse than in non-fallers. The cognitive task leads to more significant changes in gait kinematics than does a motor task and the step length and stride time variability were variables more sensitive to that cognitive influence. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 12/01770-1 - The influence of balance exercise on gait pattern with or without association to dual-task in elderly |
| Grantee: | Daniela Cristina Carvalho de Abreu |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |