Walshe, Elizabeth and Roche, Richard and Ward, Christina and Patterson, Matt and O'Neill, Desmond and Collins, Ronan and Commins, Sean
(2019)
Comparable walking gait performance during executive and non-executive
cognitive dual-tasks in chronic stroke: A pilot study.
Gait and Posture, 71.
pp. 181-185.
ISSN 0966-6362
Abstract
Background: Falls are a serious problem among stroke survivors due to subsequent injuries, recovery setbacks,
dependence, and mortality. A growing body of dual-task (DT) studies suggests a role of executive functions in
gait control and falls, particularly in subacute stroke. However, few studies have compared distinct executive
and non-executive tasks, nor their effects on chronic stroke gait. Research question: The purpose of this crosssectional study was to compare the effects of distinct working memory (2-back) and inhibition (Stroop) tasks on
walking gait performance in chronic stroke survivors.
Methods: A pilot sample of chronic stroke survivors (n = 11, 8 males, mean age = 70.91, 6-12months poststroke event) and age-matched healthy controls (n = 13, 4 male; mean age = 68.46) were tested. Gait performance (speed, stride time, stride time variability, stride length and stride length variability) was measured using
2 wireless inertial measurement sensors under 4 walking conditions: 1) preferred walking (single-task: ST), 2)
walking with a 2-back DT, 3) walking with a Stroop DT, and 4) walking with a non-executive motor response DT.
The secondary tasks were also carried out in both ST (seated) and DT conditions, to examine bidirectional
effects.
Results: While the stroke survivor sample had a slower gait speed across conditions and tasks, there were no
significant differences between the groups [F(1, 22) = 1.13, p =.299, η2
p = .049] on the spatial or temporal
gait characteristics recorded: gait performance was maintained during executive and non-executive DTs. In
addition, we did not find a significant effect of group on cognitive task performance (all p > .052). However, we
observed a cost in accuracy on the 2-back DT for both groups, suggesting resource overlap and greater cognitive
load (all t > 19.72, all p < .001).
Significance: Our gait data contradict previous studies evidencing impaired gait post-stroke, suggesting functional recovery in this chronic stroke sample.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Keywords: |
Gait;
Stroke;
Dual-task;
Executive function;
Older adults; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology |
| Item ID: |
13879 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2019.05.004 |
| Depositing User: |
Richard Roche
|
| Date Deposited: |
26 Jan 2021 12:53 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
Gait and Posture |
| Publisher: |
Elsevier B.V. |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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