@article{ref1,
title="The effects of a concurrent task on walking in persons with transfemoral amputation compared to persons without limb loss",
journal="Prosthetics and orthotics international",
year="2015",
author="Morgan, Sara J. and Hafner, Brian J. and Kelly, Valerie E.",
volume="40",
number="4",
pages="490-496",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Many people with lower limb loss report the need to concentrate on walking. This may indicate increased reliance on cognitive resources when walking compared to individuals without limb loss. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: This study quantified changes in walking associated with addition of a concurrent cognitive task in persons with transfemoral amputation using microprocessor knees compared to age- and sex-matched controls. STUDY DESIGN: Observational, cross-sectional study. <br><br>METHODS: Quantitative motion analysis was used to assess walking under both single-task (walking alone) and dual-task (walking while performing a cognitive task) conditions. Primary outcomes were walking speed, step width, step time asymmetry, and cognitive task response latency and accuracy. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to examine the effects of task (single-task and dual-task) and group (transfemoral amputation and control) for each outcome. <br><br>RESULTS: No significant interactions between task and group were observed (all p > 0.11) indicating that a cognitive task did not differentially affect walking between groups. However, walking was slower with wider steps and more asymmetry in people with transfemoral amputation compared to controls under both conditions. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Although there were significant differences in walking between people with transfemoral amputation and matched controls, the effects of a concurrent cognitive task on walking were similar between groups. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The addition of a concurrent task did not differentially affect walking outcomes in people with and without transfemoral amputation. However, compared to people without limb loss, people with transfemoral amputation adopted a conservative walking strategy. This strategy may reduce the need to concentrate on walking but also contributed to notable gait deviations.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0309-3646",
doi="10.1177/0309364615596066",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0309364615596066"
}