Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-27-2025
Abstract
Modern walking often involves secondary tasks that may increase fall risk, especially in older adults. About one-third of adults aged 65+ fall annually, with dual-tasking further elevating this risk. This study examines how cognitive and motor dual-tasks affect gait variability. Ten healthy young adults completed baseline and three dual-task conditions: (1) walking with a Stroop test, (2) walking while carrying a tray with water, and (3) both tasks combined. Gait parameters—including step length, step width, stride length, and double support time—were analyzed. Significant alterations were observed with P-values of 0.0019 (right step length), 0.004 (step width), 0.0007 (stride length), and 0.0477 (double support time), indicating increased gait variability. These results suggest dual-tasking disrupts gait stability and highlight the clinical value of dual-task training for improving motor-cognitive integration and reducing fall risk.
Recommended Citation
Gazio, G. C., Litonjua, D., Omaszta, A., Perry, L., Tsotras, S., Salazar, M., Woo, J., Qiu, A., Palmer, J., Rogers, E., Sagahon, C., Parker, E., Kasama, R., Choi, J., Chauhan, R. K., Rajagopal, S., Moon, S. H., Shiraishi, M., & Soangra, R. (2025). Gait Adaptations Under Cognitive and Motor Dual-Task Conditions. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10711813251358800
Copyright
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Comments
This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting in 2025. This article may not exactly replicate the final published version. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1177/10711813251358800.