Balance recovery stepping responses during walking were not affected by a concurrent cognitive task among older adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Most of older adults' falls are related to inefficient balance recovery after an unexpected loss of balance, i.e., postural perturbation. Effective balance recovery responses are crucial to prevent falls. Due to the considerable consequences of lateral falls and the high incidence of falls when walking, this study aimed to examine the effect of a concurrent cognitive task on older adults' balance recovery stepping abilities from unannounced lateral perturbations while walking. We also aimed to explore whether cognitive performance accuracy is affected by perturbed walking and between task trade-offs.

Methods

In a laboratory-based study, 20 older adults (> 70 years old) performed the following test conditions: (1) cognitive task while sitting; (2) perturbed walking

SUBMITTER: Paran I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8988391 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature