Test-retest reliability of a vision-based cognitive-motor dual-task assessment for people with lower limb amputation: A pilot study
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 30, 2026
Revised and Neuroimaging-Compatible Versions of the Dual Task Screen
Published on: October 5, 2020
Emily J Parsowith1, Lisa A Zukowski2, Paula Gangopadhyay3
1Department of Physical Therapy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
Background:
Nearly half of people with lower limb amputation (LLA) state the need to focus overt visual attention on each step taken during walking activities. As a result of increased visual reliance, optimal visuocognitive function may be needed to better accommodate real-world settings and minimize ambulatory difficulties.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to determine test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change (MDC) values of gait and cognitive outcomes of a vision-based cognitive-motor dual-task assessment in people with unilateral LLA.
Methods:
Sixteen participants completed a dual-task assessment involving a cognitive task of visual puzzles and a motor task of walking for two minutes. Test-retest reliability was calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and MDC for motor and cognitive outcomes.
Results:
Motor outcomes of gait speed (ICC= 0.957, MDC= 0.07 m/s) and stride length asymmetry (ICC= 0.980, MDC= 1.5 units) exhibited very strong reliability and small MDC values. Also, we determined strong reliability of the cognitive outcome response time (ICC= 0.877, MDC= 463 ms) and moderate reliability of accuracy (ICC=0.658, MDC= 25%).
Conclusion:
These preliminary findings demonstrate very strong test-retest reliability for gait speed and stride length asymmetry, and acceptable reliability for cognitive response time, supporting the use of these outcomes for group-level evaluation of vision-based cognitive-motor dual-task performance in people with LLA.
