Changes In Dual-task Gait Speed Following A 10-week Golf Program In Older Adults

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the change in dual-tasking ability during gait in response to a golf exercise program in healthy, older adults. BACKGROUND: The ability of older adults to perform dual-tasking during gait has been studied as a predictor of fall risk. Therefore, it is important to investigate exercise programs that not only improve fitness and balance in older adults, but also enhance the ability to dual-task. METHODS: Fifteen healthy, older adults without previous golf experience were enrolled in a golf program with fitness testing before and after the intervention. One participant had to drop out of the study due to a work-related injury at week 8. Dual-task performance was measured using a fast-gait task while counting backwards by threes on a ProtokineticsTM walking mat. Cognitive cost was determined by normalizing the dual-task responses to a seated counting task. Paired t tests were run to determine significance. Results are presented as mean±SD. Cohen’s d effect sizes were calculated and reported as small=0.2, medium=0.5, and large=0.8. RESULTS: Gait speed during the dual-task was significantly increased following the golf program with a large effect size (1.75±0.19m/s to 1.91±0.22m/s; p=0.007; d=0.85). This increase in gait speed coincided with increases in both average stride length (2.3%; p=0.061; d=0.55) and average cadence (5.8%; p=0.059; d=0.55). Cognitive dual cost did not change between pre and post testing but trended towards improving (40.94%; p=0.207; d=0.35). CONCLUSION: Golf is a unique, multimodal activity that has a beneficial impact on fitness in healthy, older adults. This study demonstrated that a golf program can improve the ability to perform dual tasking. Participants were able to increase their gait speed without compromising the amount of numbers they could recite correctly. The participants trended towards an improved correct response rate following the program as shown by the improvement in cognitive dual cost. Golf should be encouraged as a physical activity program for older adults. Supported by R&A Grant GHA0012017.