Relationship of dual task performance ability and balance ability in community-dwelling elderly

Abstract

Background: In the elderly, the reduction in the posture holding ability under dual task has been reported to be related to the increased risk of falling. Moreover, interventions to improve the posture holding ability under dual task have been shown to be able to reduce risk in falls evidently. However, the tasks added to the dual task are different and therefore the association of balance ability indicator that is related to the dual task performance ability and risk of falling is unclear. Purpose:The ability to performdual task by holding a cup of water while walking, and how is it related to the balance ability is the main objective of this research. Methods: The subjects of this study are 47 communitydwelling elderly above 65 years old that have problems with motor functions and have joined a local prevention project. The subjects of this study are the ones who have been explained to inwriting and verbally the objective of this study, and those who have given written consent. The subjects were asked towalk atmaximum speedwhile holding a cup ofwater on a 7m path. At that time, 2m was a run-up interval, and the 5m after that the walking speeds was calculated. Functional Reach Test and one-footed standing duration, Timed Up and Go Test were each done twice, and the average value was used as the representative value. The dual-task cost was calculated from the walking speed as follows. DualTask costs (%) = 100× (single-task gait speed− dual-task gait speed)/single-task gait speed. To examine the test results relationship between the dual-task cost and other balance ability, spss ver.19 and Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used. The significant risk rate was considered to be less than 5%. Results:Dual-Task cost and Functional Reach Test have a significant positive correlation. In addition, therewas a significant negative correlation between Dual-Task cost and Timed Up and Go Test. Conclusion(s):Since correlation thatDual-Task costswas as positive as posture maintenance and modulatory capacity was accepted, it was suggested that dual task execution capability is subject to the influence of posture maintenance and modulatory capacity. However, since Timed up and Go Test and negative correlation were accepted, in the low person of ambulatory ability, and the high person, it was suggested that the method of distribution the cautions at the time of dual task execution has a difference. Implications: By revealing the relationship of the DualTask cost and the risk of falling, there is a contribution to the development of effective fall prevention program.