Article

Gait disorders in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) are
accentuated when they perform another task simultaneously. This study examines
whether practice enables people with PD to walk with large steps while performing
added tasks, and to determine if training people with PD to walk with added
working memory tasks leads to improvements in gait when walking and performing
other tasks simultaneously. METHODS: Walking patterns were recorded pre and post
a 20min dual task training session in 20 people with PD. Participants performed a
series of 10m walking trials under seven conditions: gait only, and with six
different added tasks varying by task type (e.g. motor, cognitive), domain (e.g.
postural, manual manipulation, language, calculation, auditory, visuospatial),
and difficulty level. Dual task training aimed to improve step length while
simultaneously undertaking a variety of language and counting working memory
tasks that were different to those used in assessment. RESULTS: Following
training, step length increased when performing five of the six added tasks,
indicating transfer of dual task training when walking occurred across task types
and domains. Improvements in gait speed occurred in three of the six added tasks.
When other gait variables were examined, such as step length variability, few
improvements with training were found. CONCLUSIONS: Training can lead to larger
steps when walking under dual task conditions in people with PD. The gait
variable emphasised during dual task training appears to be an important factor
in enabling the transfer of training improvements across tasks.
CI - Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS