This article is part of a series on Motor Control in the Elderly, edited by Silvestro Micera.

Research

Age-related differences in dual task walking: a cross sectional study

Andrew W Priest^{* 1} , Kathleen B Salamon^{* 2} and John H Hollman^{* 3}

¹Physical Therapy Department, Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa, USA

²Department of Physical Therapy, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, USA

³Program in Physical Therapy, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation 2008, 5:29doi:10.1186/1743-0003-5-29

Published:	14 November 2008

Abstract

Background

Variability in stride velocity during walking characterizes gait instability and predicts falling in older individuals. Walking while executing a cognitive task is also associated with increased risk of falling, particularly in older adults. Variability in stride velocity, particularly during dual task walking conditions, may differ between younger and older individuals. The purpose of this study was to examine whether gait velocity and variability in stride velocity differ between older community-dwelling women and younger women during dual task walking.

Methods

Twenty-three older (80 ± 9 years) and 19 younger (23 ± 2 years) women walked under each of two conditions: (1) walking at a self-selected velocity and (2) walking at a self-selected velocity while incrementally counting backwards. Gait velocity and variability in stride velocity were measured with GAITRite^® instrumentation.

Results

Gait velocity decreased and variability in stride variability increased, in both groups, during dual task walking. The relative reduction in gait velocity and the magnitude of variability in stride velocity were greater in the older subjects than younger subjects.

Conclusion

The gait changes observed in dual task walking characterize reduced gait stability and indicate that cognitively demanding tasks during walking have a destabilizing effect on gait that may place older persons at greater risk of falls.