Abstract
BackgroundPrevious literature mainly introduced cognitive functions to explain performance decrements in dual-task walking, i.e., changes in dual-task locomotion are attributed to limited cognitive information processing capacities. In this study, we enlarge existing literature and investigate whether leg muscular capacity plays an additional role in children’s dual-task walking performance.MethodsTo this end, we had prepubescent children (mean age: 8.7 ± 0.5 years, age range: 7–9 years) walk in single task (ST) and while concurrently conducting an arithmetic subtraction task (DT). Additionally, leg lean tissue mass was assessed.ResultsFindings show that both, boys and girls, significantly decrease their gait velocity (f = 0.73), stride length (f = 0.62) and cadence (f = 0.68) and increase the variability thereof (f = 0.20-0.63) during DT compared to ST. Furthermore, stepwise regressions indicate that leg lean tissue mass is closely associated with step time and the variability thereof during DT (R2 = 0.44, p = 0.009). These associations between gait measures and leg lean tissue mass could not be observed for ST (R2 = 0.17, p = 0.19).ConclusionWe were able to show a potential link between leg muscular capacities and DT walking performance in children. We interpret these findings as evidence that higher leg muscle mass in children may mitigate the impact of a cognitive interference task on DT walking performance by inducing enhanced gait stability.
Highlights
Previous literature mainly introduced cognitive functions to explain performance decrements in dual-task walking, i.e., changes in dual-task locomotion are attributed to limited cognitive information processing capacities
It has been reported that children develop a slower gait, take shorter steps, and increase their stride time during walking while performing Stroop-like tasks [11], non-verbal memory tasks [12], or arithmetic tasks [6]. These findings indicate that children tend to change their gait behavior during dual-tasking to adopt a more cautious gait pattern [13]
The results show that participants walked significantly slower (22%, f = 0.73), took shorter steps (12%, f = 0.62), increased their stride time (13%, f = 0.56), and decreased their cadence (12%, f = 0.73) during DT compared to single task (ST) walking (Figure 1A-D)
Summary
Previous literature mainly introduced cognitive functions to explain performance decrements in dual-task walking, i.e., changes in dual-task locomotion are attributed to limited cognitive information processing capacities. We enlarge existing literature and investigate whether leg muscular capacity plays an additional role in children’s dual-task walking performance. The control of human walking has traditionally been considered an automatic process that only requires minimal cognitive effort. Few studies explored the ability of children to perform a cognitive and a walking task simultaneously. Dual-task walking in children causes, among others, a reduction in gait speed and stride length and an increase in step time and double-limb support time [5,6]. Their motor abilities are most likely restricted by maturational deficits [7]
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