Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026
05:23
Motor Dual-Tasks for Gait Analysis and Evaluation in Post-Stroke Patients
Published on: March 11, 2021
Interference between cognition, double-limb support, and swing during gait in community-dwelling individuals
Prudence Plummer-D'Amato1, Lori J P Altmann, Andrea L Behrman
1Department of Physical Therapy, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115-5000, USA. pplummer@neu.edu
Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
|April 29, 2010
Summary
Dual tasking impacts post-stroke gait by altering double-limb support (DLS) and swing phases, particularly during paretic weight acceptance. These cognitive-motor interference effects are crucial for community ambulators with hemiparetic stroke.
Area of Science:
- Neurorehabilitation
- Biomechanics
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Dual tasking presents challenges for individuals post-stroke, potentially interfering with daily activities.
- Understanding cognitive-motor interference is vital for improving gait in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between cognitive tasks and specific gait cycle phases (swing and double-limb support/DLS) in community-dwelling individuals post-stroke.
- To analyze cognitive-motor interference effects during different gait phases.
Main Methods:
- Synchronized acquisition of cognitive and gait data.
- Participants performed walking tasks alone and with three concurrent cognitive tasks.
- Analysis of gait cycles (131 +/- 39 per person) in 8 participants (7.6 +/- 4.2 months post-stroke).
Main Results:
- Dual-task walking significantly increased the proportion of gait cycle spent in DLS, especially during paretic weight acceptance.
- Reduced paretic single-limb stance duration and altered nonparetic swing duration were observed under dual-task conditions.
- No significant increase in gait temporal asymmetry or effect of stimulus timing on reaction time was found.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive-motor interference during gait is influenced by the gait cycle phase, particularly DLS involving paretic weight acceptance.
- Findings suggest potential implications for community ambulation in individuals with hemiparetic stroke.
- This pilot study highlights the importance of considering gait phase-specific effects in rehabilitation strategies.
