The Effect of Motor and Cognitive Tasks on Gait in People with Stroke

Abstract

Objective: Gait of people with unilateral stroke is characterized by pronounced asymmetry. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of cognitive and motor tasks on asymmetry of gait in people with stroke. Materials and Methods: Nine individuals with stroke walked over the GAITRite walkway while performing motor (holding a cup with water) or cognitive (reciting the alphabet) tasks or walked with no additional task. Gait velocity, cadence, and symmetry indexes for the stance phase, swing phase, and single support phase of a gait cycle were calculated. Results: The motor and cognitive tasks negatively affected gait velocity (P < .05) and cadence (P < .05). Walking and performing additional tasks resulted in the increase of the asymmetry of gait. The cognitive task had a greater effect on gait asymmetry than the motor task. Conclusions: The study outcome revealed that gait of individuals with stroke could be affected by simultaneous performance of additional tasks. The outcome provides a basis for future investigation of the ways of improving symmetry of gait in people with stroke.