Using smartphone accelerometry to assess the relationship between cognitive load and gait dynamics during outdoor walking.

ABSTRACT: Research has demonstrated that an increase in cognitive load can result in increased gait variability and slower overall walking speed, both of which are indicators of gait instability. The external environment also imposes load on our cognitive systems; however, most gait research has been conducted in a laboratory setting and little work has demonstrated how load imposed by natural environments impact gait dynamics during outdoor walking. Across four experiments, young adults were exposed to varying levels of cognitive load while walking through indoor and outdoor environments. Gait dynamics were concurrently recorded using smartphone-based accelerometry. Results suggest that, during indoor walking, increased cognitive load impacted a range of gait parameters such as step time and step t

SUBMITTER: Ho S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6395667 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature