Investigating Dual Task Balance Exercises: Quantifying Practice Patterns And Understanding Decision-Making Among Physical Therapists

Dual-task exercise has been shown to be an effective intervention to improve patient functional outcomes and decrease falls. However, little is known about whether physical therapists are prescribing dual task exercises during their sessions, or at what intensity. The objective of this research was to analyze differences and similarities of observed balance exercise practice patterns and reported practice and decision-making among physical therapists. We analyzed both quantitative and qualitative data from two separate studies and extracted data regarding dual-task balance exercises. Our analysis found that therapists rarely perform, describe, or report thinking about dual-task balance exercises in their physical therapy sessions.