How Does Dual-tasking Affect Distance Walked During An Endurance Task In Older Adults?

The 6-Minute Walk Test is a functional endurance test used amongst a variety of individuals and can be used to help determine exercise capacity and aerobic function. In a clinical environment, patients are only cued for time, but not hold a conversation or complete other tasks. There are a few studies that investigate the effect of dual tasking while completing a balance test like the Timed Up and Go or Sit to Stand, but not as many addressing dual tasking and 6MWT. PURPOSE: To determine if completing another cognitive task while walking affects the distance covered and gait characteristics older adults may demonstrate while completing a 6MWT. METHODS: For this study, fifteen participants with an age range between 67-88 years were recruited from central NC. Participants completed 2 trials of a 6MWT, randomly assigned to either completing a single or dual task (i.e. answering pre-determined social questions) first, followed by a second trial of the opposite task. Participants wore inertial measurement units to calculate various spatiotemporal measurements while walking, such as cadence and stride length. Vital signs and RPE were measured at rest and post-trials. Paired-samples t-tests were used to analyze cadence (steps/min), stride length (m), distance walked (m), and lap times (60 m/lap) betweentrials. RESULTS: There was an overall 6% significant decrease in the mean distance walked during dual task 6MWT (452 ± 94.6 m) as compared to single task (480 ± 106.5 m; p < 0.001). Compared to single task, older adults walked with lesser cadence (2.5%; p < 0.001), shorter stride length (3.1%; p < 0.001), longer lap times (first lap (5.9%; p = 0.002), middle laps (4.5%; p = 0.002), last lap (5.2%; p = 0.005) during dual task. CONCLUSION: Based on our data, we were able to see that completing another task while completing an endurance task affects various parameters such as distance, cadence, stride length, and lap times. Clinicians should be aware that engaging a patient in conversation while the patient is involved in a walking endurance activity leads to a slight decrease in gait performance. While these results may not be feasible for a 6MWT in the clinic, further testing and analysis could see if there is potential for dual tasking to be incorporated while completing other endurance tasks in older adults. Elon Faculty and Research Development Funds