The effects of cognitive intervention on inter-joint coordination during walking in the older adults with balance impairment

• Published in: Gait & posture 2023-09, Vol.106, p.72-79
• Main Authors: Azadian, Elaheh, Dadgar, Somayeh Akhlaghi, Majlesi, Mahdi, Jafarnezhadgero, Amir Ali, Jalilvand, Mohammad, Bijarchian, Mohammad Hasan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cognitive intervention; Coupling angles; Gait; Inter-joints coordination; Variability
• ISSN: 0966-6362; 1879-2219
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.08.030

Cognitive interventions are among the effective training-on-gait parameters; however, the effects of such trainings on inter-joints coordination has not been much considered. Can dual task and executive function training affect inter-joint coordination during walking in elderly with poor balance? Thirty elderly men were purposefully divided into three groups: 1) dual-task training group (DTG), 2) executive function training group (EFG) and 3) control group. After the pre-test, the experimental groups participated in 24 training sessions while the control group were required to do their normal daily tasks. VICON three-dimensional motion analysis system with four T20 series cameras was used to evaluate inter-joints coordination during the experiment. Participants had to walk a 12-meter path while kinematics of their joints was recorded. The inter-joint coordination at the sagittal plane and in four phases were assessed using the vector coding technique. The findings of this study showed that the greatest effect of the intervention on the coordination between the joints was in the loading and mid-stance phases (p