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Effect of dual-tasking on the center of pressure trajectory at gait initiation in elderly fallers and non-fallers

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Abstract

Background and aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the center of pressure (COP) trajectory at gait initiation in single- and dual-task conditions between elderly Fallers and Non-fallers. Methods: Seventy-one community-dwelling elderly people (mean age 80.5±7.6 years) voluntarily participated in this study. Participants were categorized as Fallers or Non-fallers on the basis of previous fall experience. In single- and dual-task conditions, participants performed gait initiation trials from a starting position on a force platform while COP data were collected. Steady-state walking time on a 10-m straight walkway in single- and dual-task conditions was also measured. In the dual-task condition, participants performed individual tests with simultaneous backward counting. Maximum COP displacements and velocities were calculated in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions. Results: In the dual-task condition, Fallers had significantly smaller backward displacements and slower backward velocities of COP than Non-fallers, although there was no significant difference in these values in the single-task condition between groups. Steady-state walking time was also not significantly different in both single- and dual-task conditions between groups. Conclusions: Gait-initiation performance in dual-task conditions may be a good discriminator between Fallers and Non-fallers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan

    Kazuki Uemura PT, MSc, Minoru Yamada, Koutatsu Nagai & Noriaki Ichihashi

  2. Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan

    Masahiro Shinya

Authors
  1. Kazuki Uemura PT, MSc
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  2. Minoru Yamada
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  3. Koutatsu Nagai
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  4. Masahiro Shinya
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  5. Noriaki Ichihashi
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Correspondence to Kazuki Uemura PT, MSc.

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Uemura, K., Yamada, M., Nagai, K. et al. Effect of dual-tasking on the center of pressure trajectory at gait initiation in elderly fallers and non-fallers. Aging Clin Exp Res 24, 152–156 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325161

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325161

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