Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026
05:23
Motor Dual-Tasks for Gait Analysis and Evaluation in Post-Stroke Patients
Published on: March 11, 2021
3.1K
Age-associated differences in global and segmental control during dual-task walking under sub-optimal sensory
Nandini Deshpande1, Patricia Hewston1, Mika Yoshikawa1
1School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
Human Movement Science
|January 26, 2015
Summary
Young adults slowed walking more than older adults during dual-task walking. Both groups reduced head movement with sensory manipulation, but older adults stiffened their trunks when attention demands increased.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biomechanics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Safe dual-tasking is essential for older adults' independence.
- Age-related changes in sensory systems impact balance and gait.
- Understanding compensatory strategies is key to fall prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare age-associated differences in postural control during dual-task walking under altered sensory conditions.
- To investigate how young adults (YA) and older adults (OA) adapt gait and segmental control.
- To examine the effects of visual blurring and galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) on dual-task performance.
Main Methods:
- 13 YA and 13 OA performed walking-while-talking (WT) or no-WT tasks.
- Sensory conditions included normal vision, blurring goggles (BV), and GVS.
- Gait parameters (speed, step length) and segmental movements (trunk, head roll) were measured.
Main Results:
- Gait speed decreased more in YA than OA during WT.
- GVS increased gait speed with normal vision but not BV.
- Head roll decreased with GVS in both groups; OA also reduced trunk roll during WT with GVS.
Conclusions:
- Young adults reduced gait speed more than older adults to manage dual-tasking.
- Galvanic vestibular stimulation adaptations depend on visual input.
- Older adults employ distinct trunk stiffening strategies under high attentional demand to maintain postural control.
