Different motor tasks impact differently on cognitive performance of older persons during dual task tests

Gait performance of the elderly under dual-task conditions: Review of instruments employed and kinematic parameters

“…All 28 of the articles included were published in English. Of these, 13 analyzed a single group of elderly individuals [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] and 15 compared groups of elderly individuals with different characteristics. 5,6,[16][17][18][19][20][21][38][39][40][41][42][43][44] Charts 1 and 2 contain the details of the studies included in this review, as well as the details of the samples, instruments, tasks and spatial and temporal parameters of gait in each study.…”

“…18,39,40 Nine studies analyzed the step length of community-dwelling elderly individuals. Of the four studies involving elderly individuals with similar characteristics, [31][32][33]35 two reported an increase in the variability of step length 31,33 and two reported a reduction of the same parameter during a DT with an arithmetic CT and a verbal fluency CT. 32,35 Of the four studies that compared two groups of elderly individuals with different characteristics, 18,21,38,40,43 two reported an increase in the step length during a DT with an arithmetic CT among elderly fallers and those who feared falls. 18,21 One exclusive study of community-dwelling elderly individuals assessed stride speed and reported an increase during a DT with an arithmetic CT. 32 Only one study assessed step width, and no statistically significant differences were found among elderly individuals that were classified as healthy, fallers and recurrent fallers during a DT with an arithmetic CT. 21 Step Twelve studies assessed step parameters and of these, six assessed the quantity of steps.…”

“…Of the nine studies that used a sample of elderly individuals with similar characteristics, eight reported a reduction in gait speed during the performance of a DT with an arithmetic CT, a verbal fluency CT, an executive function CT and a triple task (TT) among frail communitydwelling elderly individuals. 17,[29][30][31][33][34][35]37 One study reported no alteration in the parameter during the DT. 25 Of the 10 studies that compared two groups of elderly individuals with different characteristics, six indicated a reduction in gait speed among fallers, 31,42,44 recurrent fallers 5 and those who feared falling 18,43 during a DT with an arithmetic CT, a verbal fluency CT, a motor task (MT) and a TT.…”

“…29,39,41 Ten studies analyzed the stride time. Of the three studies involving elderly individuals with similar characteristics, two reported a reduction in the stride time among community-dwelling and frail elderly individuals, 27,32 whereas two other studies reported an increase in the variability of time during a DT with an arithmetic CT, a verbal fluency CT and an executive function CT. 31,35 Of the six studies that compared elderly individuals with different characteristics, 16,18,38,39,40,42 three reported an increase in the stride time among elderly individuals who were classified as sedentary, fallers and those who feared falling, during a DT with an arithmetic CT and a MT. 18,39,40 Nine studies analyzed the step length of community-dwelling elderly individuals.…”

“…28 Two articles analyzed step width 19,43 but only one reported an increase in this parameter among elderly fallers during a DT with an MT, an arithmetic CT and a verbal fluency CT, when compared with non-fallers. 20 Of the five studies that assessed step length, two only analyzed elderly individuals with similar characteristics 25,35 and one reported a reduction during a DT with an executive function CT among community-dwelling elderly individuals. 35 Of the three studies that compared elderly individuals with different characteristics, 20,40,42 two reported an increase during a DT with an MT among elderly fallers.…”