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Quantitative assessment of the stops walking while talking test in the elderly
Esther W de Hoon1, John H Allum, Mark G Carpenter
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|June 17, 2003
Summary
Elderly individuals who stop walking while talking exhibit slower walking speeds and unstable trunk control. A brief dual-task test effectively identifies these individuals, aiding in fall risk prediction.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biomechanics
- Neurology
Background:
- Dual-task interference is a common issue in the elderly, impacting gait stability.
- The stops walking while talking (SWWT) test assesses dual-task performance but can be lengthy.
- Identifying reliable methods to assess gait instability in older adults is crucial for fall prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a shorter version of the SWWT test for identifying elderly
- stoppers
- versus
- nonstoppers
- .
Main Methods:
- A modified 8-meter SWWT test with a single question was administered to 17 institutionalized elderly participants.
- Trunk sway (pitch and roll) and walking duration were measured during single-task and dual-task walking trials.
- Participants were categorized as
- stoppers
- or
- nonstoppers
- based on their response to the dual-task condition.
Main Results:
- The short SWWT test identified more
- stoppers
- (8 participants) compared to the original SWWT (4 participants).
- Individuals who stopped walking while talking demonstrated significantly longer walking durations and greater trunk roll displacements, even during normal walking.
- Both
- stoppers
- and
- nonstoppers
- exhibited longer walking durations when the dual-task was introduced.
Conclusions:
- A brief SWWT test with a sudden question is effective in identifying elderly individuals with impaired dual-task walking.
- Elderly
- stoppers
- exhibit slower walking speeds and poorer trunk control, indicating higher fall risk.
- Objective trunk sway measurements can effectively identify gait instabilities, supporting the predictive value of the brief SWWT test for fall-prone individuals.