Dual task prioritization was adopted due to limited attention and information processing capacity when performing dual tasking. However, the effects of different task prioritizations during dual task training have not yet been investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of task prioritization (focus) during dual task training on dual task walking performance in older people. Thirty-nine participants were assigned to one of the three groups (n=13 for each group): posture-focus group (PF), supraposture-focus group (SF), and control group. The training was 30 min/session, 2-3 sessions/week for 4-6 weeks, with total 12 sessions. Participants received the same cognitive dual task training, and the differences were the instructions for task prioritization. Participants were instructed to pay most attention to the cognitive task in SF and to the standing or walking task in PF. No prioritization was instructed in the control group. Outcomes included cognitive and motor dual task walking performance. The cognitive dual task walking speed (p= 0.004), stride length (p= 0.001), and number of accurate subtractions (p= 0.001) were significantly improved more after PF than control group. PF also exerted more improvements in stride length (p= 0.009), cadence (p= 0.049), and number of accurate subtractions (p= 0.014) than SF. Besides, PF resulted in significant more improvements in speed (p= 0.008) and cadence (p= 0.016) during motor dual task walking than SF. Dual task training with posture prioritization could be suggested to older people to improve their dual task walking performances.

Authors:
Ray-Yau Wang, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
Wei-Chen Chen, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
Yea-Ru Yang, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Professor Ray-Yau Wang is a School Teacher/Instructor at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan

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