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Effects of individual progressive single- and dual-task training on gait and cognition among older healthy adults: a randomized-controlled comparison study

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Key summary points

AbstractSection Aim

With this study, we aimed to compare the effects of single- and dual-task training on gait and cognition among healthy older individuals, which can be adjusted weekly according to the individual’s functional performance.

AbstractSection Findings

According to the results of the study, the dual-task training group was better compared to the single-task training group in gait speed, cadence, and many cognitive variables.

AbstractSection Recommendation

Individual progressive dual-task training is an effective and useful method that improves gait performance and cognitive skills among older individuals. It is proposed to implement to maintain normal gait and cognitive function, and prevent possible gait and cognitive disabilities for healthy older individuals.

Abstract

Purpose

Dual-task training has beneficial effects on older individuals for gait and cognition. This study was aimed to make a comparison between the effects of individual progressive single- and dual-task training on gait and cognition among healthy older individuals.

Methods

A total of 32 participants were divided randomly into two groups as the single-task group (n = 16, 64.6 ± 3.3 years, 7 males and 9 females) and dual-task group (n = 16, 65.6 ± 2.6 years, 8 males and 8 females). The 10-m walk test with the LEGSys device was used to assess spatio-temporal gait parameters. The cognitive parameters were evaluated using the Standardized Mini-Mental State Exam and Stroop Test. An individual progressive 60 min single- and dual-task training programs were applied twice per week for a period of 6 weeks.

Results

There were significant differences for both gait and cognition variables in the dual-task training group (p < 0.05), according to the comparison of pre- and post-treatment results. In the single-task training group, there were significant differences only in gait parameters with single-task conditions (p < 0.05). The comparisons of the delta values between the groups indicated that the dual-task training group was better compared to the single-task training group in gait speed, cadence, and many cognitive variables (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Individual progressive dual-task training is an effective and useful method that improves gait performance and cognitive skills among older individuals.

Trial registration number and date

NCT03777111, 12/13/2018.

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Data availability

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article [and/or] its supplementary materials.

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Funding

Not applicable. The authors received no specific funding for this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Zafer Health Campus, A Block, 2078 Street No: 3, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

    Emel Tasvuran Horata

  2. Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey

    Sebahat Yaprak Cetin

  3. School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey

    Suat Erel

Authors
  1. Emel Tasvuran Horata
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  3. Suat Erel
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by ETH and SYC. The first draft of the manuscript was written by ETH and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emel Tasvuran Horata.

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Conflict of interest/Competing Interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest/competing interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article. The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.

Ethical approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of University B (Date: 08/08/2018 No. 60116787-020/53283).

Informed consent

Written informed consent was obtained from all participants after they were verbally briefed about the aims of the study.

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Tasvuran Horata, E., Cetin, S.Y. & Erel, S. Effects of individual progressive single- and dual-task training on gait and cognition among older healthy adults: a randomized-controlled comparison study. Eur Geriatr Med 12, 363–370 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-020-00429-5

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