Influence of single and dual tasks on gait stability and gait speed in the elderly : An explorative study

The relationship between the local dynamic stability of gait to cognitive and physical performance in older adults: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Local dynamic stability (LDS) has become accepted as a gait stability indicator. The deterioration of gait stability is magnified in older adults.

RESEARCH QUESTION

What is the current state in the field regarding rthe relationship between LDS and cognitive and/or physical function in older adults?

METHODS

A scoping review design was used to search for peer-reviewed literature or conference proceedings published through May 2023 for an association between LDS and cognitive (e.g., Montreal Cognitive Assessment) or physical performance (e.g., Timed Up & Go Test) in older adults. Only studies investigating gait stability via LDS during controlled walking, when dealing with a subject group consisting of healthy older adults, and quantifying LDS relationship to cognitive and/or physical measure were included. We analysed data from the studies in a descriptive manner.

RESULTS

In total, 814 potentially relevant articles were selected, of which 15 met the inclusion criteria. We identified 37 LDS quantifiers employed in LDS-cognition and/or LDS-physical performance relationship assessment. Nine measures of cognitive and 20 measures of physical performance were analysed. Most studies estimated LDS quantities using triaxial acceleration data. However, there was a variance in sensor placement and signal direction. Out of the 56 studied relationships of LDS to physical performance measures, sixteen were found to be relevant. Out of 22 studied relationships between LDS and cognitive measures, only two were worthwhile.

SIGNIFICANCE

Considering the heterogeneity of the utilized LDS (caused by different sensors locations, signals, and signal directions as well as variety of computational approaches to estimate LDS) and cognitive/physical measures, the results of this scoping review does not indicate a current need for a systematic review with meta-analysis. To assess the overall utility of LDS to reveal a relationship between LDS to cognitive and physical performance measures, an analysis of other subject groups would be appropriate.

The Influence of Cell Phone Usage on Dynamic Stability of the Body During Walking

Dual-task walking and cell phone usage, which is associated with high cognitive load and reduced situational awareness, can increase risk of a collision, a fall event, or death. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of dual-task cell phone talking, texting, and reading while walking on spatiotemporal gait parameters; minimum foot clearance; and dynamic stability of the lower limb joints, trunk, and head. Nineteen healthy male participants walked on an instrumented treadmill at their self-selected speed as well as walking while simultaneously (1) reading on a cell phone, (2) texting, and (3) talking on a cell phone. Gait analyses were performed using an optical motion analysis system, and dynamic stability was calculated using the Maximum Lyapunov Exponent. Dual-task cell phone usage had a significant destabilizing influence on the lower limb joints during walking. Cell phone talking while walking significantly increased step width and length and decreased minimum foot clearance height (P < .05). The findings suggest that dual-task walking and cell phone conversation may present a greater risk of a fall event than texting or reading. This may be due to the requirements for more rapid information processing and cognitive demand at the expense of motor control of joint stability.

Nonlinear Dynamic Measures of Walking in Healthy Older Adults: A Systematic Scoping Review

Background: Maintaining a healthy gait into old age is key to preserving the quality of life and reducing the risk of falling. Nonlinear dynamic analyses (NDAs) are a promising method of identifying characteristics of people who are at risk of falling based on their movement patterns. However, there is a range of NDA measures reported in the literature. The aim of this review was to summarise the variety, characteristics and range of the nonlinear dynamic measurements used to distinguish the gait kinematics of healthy older adults and older adults at risk of falling. Methods: Medline Ovid and Web of Science databases were searched. Forty-six papers were included for full-text review. Data extracted included participant and study design characteristics, fall risk assessment tools, analytical protocols and key results. Results: Among all nonlinear dynamic measures, Lyapunov Exponent (LyE) was most common, followed by entropy and then Fouquet Multipliers (FMs) measures. LyE and Multiscale Entropy (MSE) measures distinguished between older and younger adults and fall-prone versus non-fall-prone older adults. FMs were a less sensitive measure for studying changes in older adults’ gait. Methodology and data analysis procedures for estimating nonlinear dynamic measures differed greatly between studies and are a potential source of variability in cross-study comparisons and in generating reference values. Conclusion: Future studies should develop a standard procedure to apply and estimate LyE and entropy to quantify gait characteristics. This will enable the development of reference values in estimating the risk of falling.

Investigation of Impact of Walking Speed on Forces Acting on a Foot-Ground Unit

Static and dynamic methods can be used to assess the way a foot is loaded. The research question is how the pressure on the feet would vary depending on walking/running speed. This study involved 20 healthy volunteers. Dynamic measurement of foot pressure was performed using the Ortopiezometr at normal, slow, and fast paces of walking. Obtained data underwent analysis in a “Steps” program. Based on the median, the power generated by the sensors during the entire stride period is the highest during a fast walk, whereas based on the average; a walk or slow walk prevails. During a fast walk, the difference between the mean and the median of the stride period is the smallest. Regardless of the pace of gait, the energy released per unit time does not depend on the paces of the volunteers’ gaits. Conclusions: Ortopiezometr is a feasible tool for the dynamic measurement of foot pressure. For investigations on walking motions, the plantar pressure analysis system, which uses the power generated on sensors installed in the insoles of shoes, is an alternative to force or energy measurements. Regardless of the pace of the walk, the amounts of pressure applied to the foot during step are similar among healthy volunteers.

Effects of tandem walk and cognitive and motor dual- tasks on gait speed in individuals with chronic idiopathic neck pain: a preliminary study

Introduction: Gait impairment has been associated with neck pain. It is relevant to understand the possible influence of narrow-based walk and an attention-demanding secondary task on gait performance in neck pain.Purpose: To investigate the effects of tandem walk and cognitive and motor dual-tasks on gait speed in persons with chronic idiopathic neck pain (CINP) compared with controls.Methods: A cross-sectional study. Thirty participants with CINP and 30 asymptomatic controls participated in the study. Gait speed was assessed using a timed 10-m walk test at a comfortable pace under four conditions: (1) comfortable walk (as reference); (2) tandem walk (single task); (3) cognitive dual-task walking; and (4) motor dual-task walking. Dual-task interference was calculated.Results: There was no difference in comfortable gait speed between groups (p= 0.40). The CINP group had slower gait speed during the tandem walk than controls (p= 0.02). The dual-task interference on gait speed was not different between groups (p = 0.67 for cognitive, p = 0.93 for motor).Conclusion: Participants with CINP had impaired gait stability during tandem walk. An attention-demanding secondary task did not influence gait speed in individuals with CINP compared to controls. The study suggests that tandem walk could be considered as an assessment tool and part of rehabilitation for neck pain.

A taxonomy of cognitive tasks to evaluate cognitive-motor interference on spatiotemoporal gait parameters in older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Walking in natural environments can be considered a dual-task (DT) scenario that requires increasing cognitive resources with advancing age. Previous reviews concluded that gait speed under DT conditions is equivalent to gait speed as a single task (ST) in the prediction of future falls in older people. However, without a clear taxonomy, these conclusions might be premature. The aim of this review is to use a taxonomy for classifying cognitive tasks of cognitive-motor interference (CMI) paradigms while walking to identify which task domains lead to more pronounced cognitive-motor decrements due to fall risk and concern about falling (CoF) in older people.

Methods

A systematic literature research following PRISMA guidelines was conducted using MEDLINE, Psych-Info and EMBASE. Inclusion criteria were: older people ≥60 years with a previous fall or CoF, use of a DT paradigm to discriminate fallers and non-fallers, straight overground walking, reported gait measurements during ST and DT conditions. A meta-analysis estimated the effect of DT costs for the cognitive task domain and spatiotemporal gait parameters.

Results

N = 3737 studies were found within the databases. Nineteen studies were included (n = 14 for meta-analysis). Fallers and people with CoF showed reduced walking speed for ST and DT conditions. Effects of DT were examined for mental tracking tasks. The combined odds ratio (OR [95% confidence interval]) for fallers vs. non-fallers for ST was 3.13 [0.47, 5.80] with moderate heterogeneity (I² = 48%). For DT, the OR was 5.17 [2.42, 7.93] with low heterogeneity (I² = 37%). Comparing participants with and without CoF, the OR for ST was 12.41 [9.97, 14.84] with high heterogeneity (I² = 85%) and OR for mental tracking DT was 10.49 [7.58, 13.40] with moderate heterogeneity (I² = 51%).

Conclusion

CMI was not significantly different between fallers and non-fallers or people with and without CoF; however, our taxonomy revealed a large variety of cognitive conditions and a higher number of studies using mental tracking tasks, which make it impossible to draw firm conclusions. Future studies should use a more standardised and ecologically valid approach when evaluating the validity of DT gait performance in the prediction of falls, CoF or other age-related conditions.

Trial registration

This review was registered at Prospero with the ID: CRD42017068912.