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Updated: Jan 6, 2026
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Clinical Assessment of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Patients and Older Adults
Published on: November 7, 2014
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SPATIOTEMPORAL PARAMETERS OF ADOLESCENT GAIT WHEN PERFORMING A VISUOSPATIAL MEMORY TASK.
Leah M Lowe1, Yevgeniya Gokun2, David K Williams
1Department of Physical Therapy, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR, USA.
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy
|October 11, 2019
Summary
Adolescent athletes showed a similar dual-task cost when performing a visuospatial memory task, indicating potential for dual-task gait analysis in concussion recovery. Further research is needed for this specific population.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Neuroscience
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Assessing recovery after mild traumatic brain injury (concussion) in adolescents is challenging.
- Dual-task models, combining cognitive and motor demands, may better detect subtle deficits than single-task models.
- Previous research explored gait changes with auditory or cognitive tasks, but not specifically visuospatial tasks on handheld devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To collect and present gait spatiotemporal parameters in healthy adolescent athletes (14-18 years) during single-task walking and dual-task walking with a visuospatial memory task.
- To establish baseline data for adolescent gait under dual-task conditions.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 178 adolescent athletes (128 males, 50 females) aged 14-18.
- Gait analysis was performed on a GAITRite® walkway under normal walking conditions and while performing a visuospatial memory task on a tablet.
- Spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured during single-task and divided-attention (dual-task) trials.
Main Results:
- Significant sex-based differences were observed in most gait parameters during typical walking, with females exhibiting faster velocity and different limb support timing.
- Both males and females demonstrated a significant dual-task cost, with adolescents decreasing gait velocity by 8-9% during the visuospatial task.
- Adolescents reduced gait velocity by shortening step length and altering the percentage of the gait cycle spent in double and single limb support during the dual-task condition.
Conclusions:
- The study provides preliminary reference values for dual-task costs in adolescent gait during a visuospatial memory task.
- These findings highlight the utility of dual-task gait analysis for assessing cognitive-motor function in adolescents.
- Further investigation is required to understand the dual-task cost implications for adolescents with concussion.
