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The relationships among gait and mobility under single and dual task conditions in community-dwelling older adults

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Abstract

Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among gait and mobility under single and dual task conditions in older adults. Methods: Community-dwelling older adults (n=41, mean age=75) completed mobility and gait tasks. Mobility was assessed with the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG). Select gait parameters were examined while individuals walked at their preferred speed across the GAITRite electronic walkway. Two age groups were studied (younger age group=65–75; older age group=76+). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between gait and mobility under single vs dual conditions. Results: Older adults required more time to complete the TUG when concurrently performing a second cognitive task (10.84 sec vs 15.77 sec). In addition, one or more gait characteristic such as stride length, cadence and stance explained (a) a high percentage of variance in mobility performance under single task conditions (TUG 74%) and (b) a smaller portion of variance in mobility performance under dual task conditions (TUGc 25%). No salient age group differences were observed in TUG performance, but gait characteristics accounted for a larger portion of variance in TUGc performance (46%) for the older age group (mean age=81) than for the younger age group (mean age=69; TUGc 18%).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, 1300 Wheat Street, Columbia, South Carolina, 29208, USA

    Gerhild Ullmann PhD (Exercise Science) & Harriet G. Williams

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  1. Gerhild Ullmann PhD
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  2. Harriet G. Williams
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Correspondence to Gerhild Ullmann PhD.

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Ullmann, G., Williams, H.G. The relationships among gait and mobility under single and dual task conditions in community-dwelling older adults. Aging Clin Exp Res 23, 400–405 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03337765

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