ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Dual task performance affects obstacle crossing ability in older adults. Previous studies suggest that cognitive dual tasking can lead to changes in obstacle crossing performance in older adults, but there is a lack of evidence to support changes in obstacle crossing performance due to the influence of motor dual tasking. AIMS: To investigate the interaction of cognitive and motor tasks, on obstacle crossing performance, in healthy young and older adults. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This is a cross sectional comparative study, conducted at Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Sixty-four participants performed an obstacle crossing task under three conditions during a 4-meter walk test. These included walking at their normal speed with an obstacle in the middle of the walkway, followed by 2 further order-randomized walking conditions comprising a cognitive and a motor dual tasking walking condition. The spatio-temporal gait variables and obstacle crossing kinematic variables were measured using a Kinect three-camera system. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The means for each variable, and for each condition, were analyzed using a mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) with walking conditions as covariant factors. RESULTS: A significant main interaction effect was found in gait speed (P < 0.001), step length (P = 0.046) and cadence (P = 0.011), but there was only a significant between-group difference in step length during obstacle crossing, while performing a cognitive dual task (P = 0.008) and a motor dual task (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Older adults adopted a conservative strategy, and walked with a shorter step length, when stepping over an obstacle while performing a dual task.
Subject(s)
Negotiating , Walking , Aged , Cognition , Cross-Sectional Studies , Gait , HumansABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The Wii Balance Board (WBB) is a commonly used tool for balance assessment, however the inconsistency in the reported validity for the WBB when used for the assessment of healthy young adults needs to be clarified. AIM: To investigate the concurrent validity and reliability of the WBB for balance assessment in healthy young adults. METHODS: Thirty-two young adults participated in this study. Their ability to balance was tested while standing on a WBB and a laboratory-grade force platform, under three conditions: feet together with eyes open, feet together with eyes closed and semi-tandem standing with eyes open. They had 10 min resting period between tests. The agreement between the WBB and the laboratory-grade force platform was investigated, and the reliability of the WBB was determined. RESULTS: A poor agreement between the WBB and the laboratory-grade force platform was found for all standing conditions [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.03 to 0.07]. A moderate to high reliability was found for the WBB for balance assessment in healthy young adults (ICC = 0.66 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: The WBB was found to be a reliable tool for static balance assessment in healthy young adults. However, it had poor validity compared to the laboratory-grade force platform.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The walking gait of older adults with balance impairment is affected by dual tasking. Several studies have shown that external cues can stimulate improvement in older adults' performance. There is, however, no current evidence to support the usefulness of external cues, such as audio-visual cueing, in dual task walking in older adults. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of an audio-visual cue (simulated traffic light) on dual task walking in healthy older adults and in older adults with balance impairments. METHODS: A two-way repeated measures study was conducted on 14 healthy older adults and 14 older adults with balance impairment, who were recruited from the community in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Their walking performance was assessed using a four-metre walking test at their preferred gait speed and while walking under two further gait conditions, in randomised order: dual task walking and dual task walking with a simulated traffic light. Each participant was tested individually, with the testing taking between 15 and 20 minutes to perform, including two-minute rest periods between walking conditions. Two Kinect cameras recorded the spatio-temporal parameters using MFU gait analysis software. Each participant was tested for each condition twice. The mean parameters for each condition were analysed using a two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with participant group and gait condition as factors. RESULT: There was no significant between-group effect for walking speed, stride length and cadence. There were also no significant effects between gait condition and stride length or cadence. However, the effect between gait condition and walking speed was found to be significant [F(1.557, 40.485) = 4.568, P = 0.024, [Formula: see text]]. CONCLUSION: An audio-visual cue (simulated traffic light) was found to influence walking speed in both healthy older adults and in older adults with balance impairment. The results suggest that audio-visual cues could be incorporated into healthy lifestyle promotion in older adults with balance impairment.
ABSTRACT
This study compared the full-body flexibility and joint proprioception (on land and underwater) of (a) 20 elite female synchronized swimmers (mean age ± standard deviation = 18.5 ± 1.9 years) and (b) 20 college female swim team members with no training in synchronized swimming (control participants; mean age ± standard deviation = 20.6 ± 1.3 years). Flexibility of the trunk and upper and lower limbs was measured using plastic tape and a goniometer, respectively. Joint proprioception (joint position sense) of the upper and lower limbs on land and underwater was measured by an active joint angle repositioning test. Principle outcome measures were passive joint range of motion (flexibility) and active joint repositioning error (proprioception). Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed that, compared with control swimmers, synchronized swimmers had greater passive joint ranges of motion in the spinal and upper and lower limb joints ( p < .05) and fewer active joint repositioning errors in the shoulder, wrist, and ankle on land ( p < .05) and in the hip and ankle underwater ( p < .05). These results help characterize peak synchronized swimmer capabilities, provide valuable reference details for coaches, and may be useful for talent identification and skill development in this sport.
