What are the factors affecting dual-task gait performance in people after stroke?

• Published in: Physiotherapy theory and practice Vol. 38; no. 5; pp. 621 - 628
• Main Authors: Muci, Birsen, Keser, Ilke, Meric, Aydin, Karatas, Gulcin Kaymak
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Ltd 01.05.2022
• Subjects: Cognition; Factor analysis; Fatigue; Gait; Humans; Mini-Mental State Examination; Motor ability; Psychomotor Performance; Stroke; Stroke Rehabilitation - methods; Task performance; Task Performance and Analysis; Walking; fatigue; Mini-Mental State Examination; stroke; Static balance index; walking performance
• ISSN: 0959-3985; 1532-5040; 1532-5040
• DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2020.1777603

People after stroke have difficulties when they undertaking two tasks simultaneously. To investigate the relationships between dual-task performance and factors such as motor function, balance, cognitive state, and fatigue, to identify factors that have an impact on dual-task performance after a stroke. Thirty-seven people with stroke and 38 healthy participants were assessed with 10-m walking test in different performances which were single-task-based, motor dual-task-based and cognitive dual-task-based. Results were evaluated according to the Rivermead Motor Assessment, the Static balance index, the Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Fatigue Severity Scale. Participants with stroke were slower compared to the control group with the following mean speed values for single-task (M = 0.73 m/s, t = -7.612, < .001), motor dual-task (M = 0.70 m/s, t = -8.232, < .001), cognitive dual-task (M = 0.59 m/s, t = -7.944, < .001). For people after stroke, motor dual-task performance was significantly affected by the total motor function scores (r = 0.648, < .001), static balance (r = -0.499, < .05), and fatigue rates (r = -0.349, < .05). Furthermore, cognitive dual-task performance was affected by the total motor function score (r = 0.537, < .05) static balance (r = -0.541, < .05) and fatigue rates (r = -0.350), < .05). Multivariate factor analysis indicated that impairment in the gross function influenced motor dual-task performance (B = 0.086, = .031) and cognitive dual-task performance (B = 0.083, = .010). Cognitive dual-task performance was affected by leg-trunk function (B = 0.063, = .015) and age (B = -0.006, = .009). The present study indicated that dual-task performance was related to motor function, balance, and fatigue, whereas gross motor function was the unique determinant of dual-task performance.