TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2008//
TI  - Age-associated effects of a concurrent cognitive task on gait speed and stability during narrow-base walking
JO  - Journals of gerontology. Series A: Biological sciences and medical sciences
A1  - Price, R.
A1  - Schrager, Matthew A.
A1  - Kelly, Valerie E.
A1  - Shumway-Cook, Anne
A1  - Ferrucci, Luigi
SP  - 1329
EP  - 1334
VL  - 63
IS  - 12
N2  - BACKGROUND: In older adults, changes in speed and stability during walking are associated with impaired balance and increased fall risk. Narrow-base walking requires increased frontal plane stability and can be used to assess postural control while walking. Performance of a concurrent cognitive task (dual task) may further increase the complexity of walking, potentially allowing identification of individuals with instability that is not detected under single-task conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine age-associated effects of a cognitive task on speed and frontal plane stability during narrow-base walking. METHODS: Thirty-four healthy adults participated, categorized by age:<65, 65-74, and>/=75 years. Participants walked at a comfortable pace within a narrow path under both single- and dual-task conditions. We examined spatiotemporal variables and frontal plane center of mass (CoM) parameters using a 13-segment biomechanical model. RESULTS: Increasing age (p<.001) and the performance of a concurrent cognitive task (p<.001) were both associated with decreased speed, with no interaction between these factors. Frontal plane CoM displacement and velocity increased with increasing age (both p<.001), but dual-task performance had no effect on these variables (both p>.450). CONCLUSIONS: Age-associated changes in both speed and stability are observed during narrow-base walking. Among this sample of healthy older adults, the addition of a concurrent cognitive task resulted in reduced speed, with no effect on frontal plane stability. Further research is needed to determine if dual-task, narrow-base walking is a sensitive and specific approach to identifying older adults at risk for falls.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1079-5006
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -