Background: Although there is a growing body of literature showing promising effects of balance training on gait in older adults, little is known about the effects of dual-task training on varying domains of spatial and temporal gait parameters.
Research question: Does the short-term effects of dual-task balance training differ between single and dual-task gait in older women with osteoporosis with regards to different gait domains (pace, rhythm, variability, asymmetry and postural control)?
Methods: Elderly women with osteoporosis who experienced fear of falling and/or ≥1 fall the last 12 months were recruited. Ninety-five participants were randomized to 12 weeks of balance training or to a control group. The participants in the training group (n = 65) received 12 weeks (3 times/week) of balance and gait exercises including dual-tasks, and the control group (n = 30) received care as usual. Single- and dual-task gait were assessed before and after the intervention with an electronic walkway system and analyzed using non-parametric statistics and effect sizes.
Results: 68 participants completed the study. The training group walked faster for single- and dual-task gait following training (P ≤ .044) by increasing their cadence (P ≤ .012) and reducing step and swing time (P ≤ .045) compared with the control group. Significant between-group differences in favor of the training group were found for gait variability during dual-task gait (P ≤ .041). The improvement in speed were greater for dual- than single-task gait (0.10 vs. 0.05 m/s) and the effect sizes revealed small to medium effects for dual-task gait, and either non-existent or small for single-task gait.
Significance: Greater training effects found on a variety of domains of dual-task gait compared to single-task gait support the role of cognitively demanding exercises for the maintenance of safe ambulation in older women with osteoporosis.
Keywords: Dual-task; Exercise; Gait; Postural control.
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