Influence of cognitive and motor tasks using smartphone during gait: EMG and gait performance analysis – Dual-task study

Abstract

Previous studies reported changes in spatiotemporal gait parameters during dual-task performance while walking using a smartphone compared to walking without a smartphone. However, studies that assess muscle activity while walking and simultaneously performing smartphone tasks are scarce. So, this study aimed to assess the effects of motor and cognitive tasks using a smartphone while simultaneously performing gait on muscle activity and gait spatiotemporal parameters in healthy young adults. Thirty young adults (22.83 ± 3.92 years) performed five tasks: walking without a smartphone (single-task, ST); typing on a smartphone keyboard in a sitting position (secondary motor single-task); performing a cognitive task on a smartphone in a sitting position (cognitive single-task); walking while typing on a smartphone keyboard (motor dual-task, mot-DT) and walking while performing a cognitive task on a smartphone (cognitive dual-task, cog-DT). Gait speed, stride length, stride width and cycle time were collected using an optical motion capture system coupled with two force plates. Muscle activity was recorded using surface electromyographic signals from bilateral biceps femoris, rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, gluteus maximus and lumbar erector spinae. Results showed a decrease in stride length and gait speed from the single-task to cog-DT and mot-DT (p < 0.05). On the other hand, muscle activity increased in most muscles analyzed from single- to dual-task conditions (p < 0.05). In conclusion, performing a cognitive or motor task using a smartphone while walking promote a decline in spatiotemporal gait parameters performance and change muscle activity pattern compared to normal walking.