Motor Dual-task Research Articles

Effect of cognitive and motor dual‐task on oropharyngeal swallowing in Parkinson's disease

Dysphagia frequently occurs in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and is associated with severe complications. However, the underlying pathology is poorly understood at present. This study investigated the effect of cognitive and motor dual-task interference on oropharyngeal swallowing in PD. Thirty PD patients (23 men, mean age 65.90±9.32years, mean Hoehn and Yahr stage 2.62±0.81, mean UPDRS 18.00±7.18) were examined using flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). FEES was performed during three paradigms: at baseline without interference, during a cognitive dual-task, and during a motor dual-task. Oropharyngeal swallowing function was rated using a score which was validated to detect changes in PD related dysphagia. The three paradigms were compared using a two-way-repetitive-measures-ANOVA and a post-hoc-analysis. Mean swallowing score in baseline FEES was 10.67±5.89. It significantly increased (worsened) to 15.97±7.62 (p<0.001) in the motor dual-task and to 14.55±7.49 (p<0.001) in the cognitive dual-task. Premature bolus spillage and pharyngeal residue both significantly increased during both of the dual-task conditions whereas penetration/aspiration events did not change. Oropharyngeal swallowing in patients with PD is not purely reflexive but requires mental capacity. Additional allocation of attentional resources in the central control of swallowing seems to be an effective compensatory mechanism in PD-related dysphagia: The proposed dual-task protocol may be useful to challenge swallowing functional reserve. Conversely, as a therapeutic strategy, it could be beneficial to focus attention on swallowing and to avoid dual-task situations.

The Effects of Cognitive and Motor Dual-Task Training on Improvement of Balance, Quality of Life, and Fear of Falls in People with Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease

The Effects of Cognitive and Motor Dual-Task Training on Improvement of Balance, Quality of Life, and Fear of Falls in People with Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease

Effects of cognitive and motor dual-tasks on oropharyngeal swallowing assessed with FEES in healthy individuals

Dysphagia is frequent in many neurological diseases and gives rise to severe complications such as malnutrition, dehydration and aspiration pneumonia. Therefore, early detection and management of dysphagia is essential and can reduce mortality. This study investigated the effect of cognitive and motor dual-task interference on swallowing in healthy participants, as dual-task effects are reported for other motor tasks such as gait and speech. 27 participants (17 females; 29.2 ± 4.1 years) were included in this prospective study and examined using flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). Using a previously established FEES-based score, the paradigms “baseline swallowing”, “cognitive dual-task” and “motor dual-task” were assessed. Scores of the three paradigms were compared using a repetitive measures ANOVA and post-hoc analysis. Mean baseline swallowing score in single task was 5 ± 3. It worsened to 6 ± 5 in the cognitive (p = 0.118), and to 8 ± 5 in the motor dual-task condition (p < 0.001). This change was driven by subclinical worsening of premature bolus spillage and pharyngeal residue. Oropharyngeal swallowing is not exclusively reflexive in nature but requires attention, which leads to motor dual-task interference. This has potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications, e.g. in the early screening for dysphagia or in avoiding dual-task situations while eating.

The Relationship between Single Task, Dual Task Performance and Impulsiveness Personality Traits of Young Adults in the Community.

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between single, dual task performance and impulsiveness personality traits of young adults in the community. (2) Methods: As a cross-sectional study, the Korean version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11-Revised test, which is an impulsiveness indicator test tool, was conducted on a total of 62 healthy young adults in the community. In order to assess the task performance ability, single task, motor dual task, and cognitive-motor dual task of Timed up and go (TUG) test were conducted. (3) Results: In order to identify the mean difference of the three types of TUG task performance according to the total score of impulsiveness test of all subjects, one-way ANOVA analysis was performed. As a result, there was no statistically significant difference by each task type. Upon investigating the correlation between the three subtypes (cognitive impulsiveness, motor impulsiveness, non-planned impulsiveness) of impulsiveness and total score and TUG task performance, cognitive impulsiveness and TUG-cognitive task performance showed statistically significant correlation. (4) Conclusions: There was an association with the degree of cognitive impulsiveness when performing motor task and cognitive task simultaneously.

Electroencephalographic neurofeedback training can decrease conscious motor control and increase single and dual-task psychomotor performance

The control of human movements is thought to automize with repetition, promoting consistent execution and reduced dual-task costs. However, contingencies such as illness or constraints to regular movement patterns can promote conscious motor control, which can reduce movement proficiency and make dual-task situations more difficult. This experiment evaluated whether electroencephalographic neurofeedback training can reduce the adverse effects of conscious motor control. Twenty-five participants completed the timed-up-and-go task while wearing a leg brace to de-automize their regular movement, under both single and dual-task (walking + serial sevens) conditions, both before and after 30-min of neurofeedback training. Three different types of neurofeedback were prescribed across three laboratory visits. We hypothesised that training to decrease central EEG alpha-power at scalp sites above the supplementary motor area would facilitate performance compared to opposite (increase central EEG alpha-power) or sham neurofeedback training. Results revealed a pre-test to post-test improvement in performance on the single-task and on both aspects of the dual-task when participants were trained to decrease central EEG alpha-power. There were no benefits of opposite or sham neurofeedback training. Mediation analyses revealed that the improvement in dual-task motor performance was mediated by the improvement in cognitive performance. This suggests that the neurofeedback protocol was beneficial because it helped to reduce conscious control of the motor task. The findings could have important implications for rehabilitation and high-performance (e.g., elite sport) domains; neurofeedback could be prescribed to help alleviate the problems that can arise when individuals exert conscious motor control.

Dual-Task Performance in Multiple Sclerosis' Patients: Cerebellum Matters?

Gait, cognitive impairments, and their mutual influence in dual tasking (cognitive-motor dual tasking, CM-DT) are important to address therapeutic approaches in patients with multiple sclerosis (PMS). CM-DT correlates have been widely investigated with variable and dissimilar results, due to differences in methods. However, although the cerebellum has recently shown to be involved in both motor and cognitive functions, few studies have explored its role in the integration of the concurrent execution of gait and cognition. This case-control study aims to explore the effects of adding a cognitive task to walking in PMS and to investigate the role of the cerebellum in the interfering process. In total, 20 patients and 18 healthy controls (HC) underwent clinical assessments, dual task (DT), and 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). DT was composed by three 2-min trials requiring fast walking. In 2 of them 2 different cognitive tasks were added. Both groups evidenced the presence of cognitive-motor interference (CMI) for both cognitive conditions with a greater effect of word list generation task in PMS. Analysis of variance between HC and patients with high or low performances showed a significantly increased volume in Vermis lobules VIIIa and IX of high performers compared with HC. Our results show that CMI is also present in healthy individuals but is significantly more disabling in PMS. Furthermore, MRI data point to the existence of an initial mechanism of cerebellar reorganization in PMS with lower interference. Subsequently, the failure of this mechanism due to the progression of disability leads to a more evident expression of symptoms.

The relationship of pain, anxiety, and fatigue with knee position sense, balance, and dual task performance during menstrual cycle in females with multiple sclerosis

Purpose This study was carried out to investigate the relationship of pain, anxiety, and fatigue with position sense, balance, and dual task performance during the menstrual cycle in females with multiple sclerosis. Methods This study included 14 females with multiple sclerosis with regular menstrual cycles. The individuals' position sense, balance, and dual task performance were evaluated with a digital inclinometer, Biodex Balance System, and the Time Up and Go Test, respectively. Pain, anxiety, and fatigue were assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Fatigue Severity Scale, respectively. The study protocol was registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04408742). Results In the early follicular phase, the pain was correlated with right knee position sense, and pain + activity was correlated with right knee position sense and dual task performance (p < .05). The correlation analysis revealed that no correlation was found between pain, pain + activity, anxiety, and fatigue, and position sense, balance, and dual task performance in the ovulation phase. In the luteal phase, the right knee position sense was correlated with pain, pain + activity, and fatigue (p < .05). Similarly, the left knee position sense was correlated with pain, pain + activity, and fatigue (p < .05). Conclusions As a result, there may be a relationship between pain and position sense in the early follicular phase and luteal phase, and a relationship between pain and motor dual task performance in the early follicular phase. Considering these changes occurring in different phases of the menstrual cycle, we think that each phase of the menstrual cycle should be taken into consideration in the follow-up of physiotherapy evaluations in females with multiple sclerosis. Abbreviations: MS: multiple sclerosis; CNS: central nervous system; FwMS: females with multiple sclerosis; eFP: early follicular phase; OP: ovulation phase; LP: luteal phase

Effect of Dual Task Training on Balance and Functional Mobility in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Research background. It was found that dual task training improves functional abilities in subjects with neurological disorders, however it is not known how dual task training affects balance and functional mobility in children with cerebral palsy (CP).The aim. To determine the effectiveness of dual motor tasks training and basic physiotherapy programme on balance and functional mobility in children with spastic diplegic CP.Methods. The study included 20 children with spastic diplegic CP. Subjects were randomly assigned into two groups: control group (40 min basic physiotherapy programme) and experimental group (20 min basic physiotherapy programme and 20 min dual motor task training). Physiotherapy was applied for 3 weeks (5 times a week). Balance and functional mobility were assessed at baseline and at the end.Results. There was a statistically significant improvement in balance and functional mobility in both the control and experimental groups after three weeks of physiotherapy (p &lt; 0.05). Comparing two groups with each other, there was a statistically significant improvement in the experimental group on balance and walking (p &lt; 0.05).Conclusion. Dual task training can be used as an effective intervention to improve balance and walking in children with spastic diplegic CP.Keywords: motor tasks, cerebral palsy, balance, functional mobility.

EFFECT OF MOTOR AND COGNITIVE DUAL TASK ON HAND FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Amaç: Günlük yaşam aktiviteleri büyük çoğunlukla ikili görev (İG) performansı gerektirir. Parkinson hastalığında (PH) bireyin günlük yaşamdaki fonksiyonel durumu, motor ve bilişsel fonksiyon arasındaki etkileşimden etkilenebilir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Parkinson hastalarında motor ve bilişsel İG’nin el fonksiyonuna etkisini incelemekti. Yöntem: Çalışmaya 50-80 yaş arası 33 PH ve benzer yaş ve cinsiyet dağılımına sahip 32 sağlıklı birey dahil edildi. El fonksiyonunu değerlendirmek için dokuz delikli peg testi (DDPT) kullanıldı. Motor İG, DDPT sırasında ayağın ritmik vurması ile, bilişsel İG ise, DDPT sırasında seri yedi çıkarma testi ile değerlendirildi. DDPT sonuçları tek görev, motor İG ve bilişsel İG altında saniye cinsinden kaydedildi. İG etkileşim yüzdesi hesaplandı. Ölçümler dominant ve dominant olmayan el için tekrarlandı. Sonuçlar: PH grubunda dominant ve dominant olmayan el fonksiyonunun hem motor hem de bilişsel İG sırasında kontrol grubuna göre daha fazla azaldığı görüldü (p&amp;lt;0,05). Her iki grupta da bilişsel İG’nin, el fonksiyonunu motor İG’den daha fazla azalttığı belirlendi (p&amp;lt;0,05). İG etkileşim yüzdeleri karşılaştırıldığında, motor İG etkileşimi açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı bir fark olmadığı (p&amp;gt;0,05); bilişsel İG etkileşim açısından ise PH grubunda etkileşimin kontrol grubuna göre daha fazla olduğu görüldü (p&amp;lt;0,05). Tartışma: PH olan bireylerin el fonksiyonu İG altında azalmaktadır. Bu azalma özellikle bilişsel İG sırasında daha fazladır. PH olan hastaların rehabilitasyon hedefleri arasında el fonksiyonu sırasında İG performansının artırılması da yer almalıdır. PH olan hastaların rehabilitasyon programına özellikle bilişsel görev içerikli İG’e yönelik egzersizlerin eklenmesi, el fonksiyonunu geliştirmede yararlı olabilir.

Comparing 16 Different Dual-Tasking Paradigms in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis and Healthy Controls: Working Memory Tasks Indicate Cognitive-Motor Interference.

Background: Cognitive–motor interference (CMI) is measured by dual-tasking (DT), which involves motor and cognitive tasks. There is no consensus as to whether CMI is present in multiple sclerosis (MS).Objectives: We investigated the effects of 16 DT conditions by measuring motor complexity, cognitive domain, and task difficulty.Method: In total, 40 persons with MS (pwMSs) with Expanded Disease Status Scale (EDSS) 3.2 ± 1.7 and 31 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) completed 2 single walking, 8 single cognitive, and 2 complex walking tasks and 16 cognitive–motor DT. The main outcomes were mean values of gait velocity and the percentage change from single to DT (motor DT costs, mDTCs) and mean values of cognitive task accuracy and the percentage changes (cognitive DTC, cDTC).Results: Two-way analyses of variance showed the main effect of cognitive task yielded an F ratio of F(4, 268) = 72.35, p < 0.01, for mean gait velocity, and an F ratio of F(4, 304) = 17.12, p < 0.001, for mDTC, indicating that the mean velocity was significantly lower and the mDTC significantly higher for DS_B (mean = 1.27, SD = 0.03, and mean = 13.52, SD = 1.28, respectively). The main effect of cognitive task yielded an F ratio of F(4, 116) = 84.32, p < 0.001, with the lowest average accuracy for DS_B (mean = 43.95, SD = 3.33); no effect was found for cDTC. In pwMSs, the EDSS accounted for 28% (F = 13.65, p = 0.001) of variance in a model predicting the highest mDTC.Conclusions: Overall, among different cognitive tasks added, the Digit Span backward was the most interfering cognitive task over gait velocity and accuracy. The effect was similar independently from the motor complexity and the group. PwMSs and HCs behaved in a similar manner at all motor complexity levels and during all cognitive task.

Prospective analysis of gait characteristics in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is a disorder that may lead to functional impairment, including gait abnormalities. Our aim was to analyze gait characteristics in patients with CIDP compared to healthy controls (HC). Moreover, we sought to determine changes of gait parameters after six-month follow-up period. Twenty-four patients with CIDP and 24 HCs performed basic walking task, dual-motor task, dual-mental task, and combined task using the same GAITRite system. Lower limb MRC-SS and lower limb INCAT disability score were assessed. Fourteen patients were retested after six months. Majority of gait parameters showed significant differences in all experimental conditions when compared between CIDP and HCs. The most consistent findings in CIDP were shorter stride length (SL), prolonged cycle time (CT) and double support time (DS), as well as increased variation of SL and of swing time (ST) (p < 0.05). During follow-up, INCAT improved in nine (64.3%) of 14 patients and MRC-SS improved in eight (57.1%) patients. Six-month changes of CT and its variation during combined task significantly differentiated patients with improved vs. non-improved INCAT (p < 0.05). In conclusion, patients with CIDP had slower gait with prolonged DS and with shorter SL compared to HCs. Increased variation of SL and of ST in CIDP may suggest a potential risk for instability and falls. Shorter CT duration and less CT variation during time correlated well with improvement in disability.

Effects of Arch Support Insoles on Single- and Dual-Task Gait Performance Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

PurposeTo explore the immediate and prolonged effects of arch support insoles on single- and dual-task gait performance among community-dwelling older adults.MethodsTwenty women performed single- and dual-task walking for 10 m at self-selected comfortable and fast paces while performing serial subtractions (cognitive interference) or carrying a tray (motor interference). Spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured and compared with measurements without arch support immediately after the insertion of the insoles and at 1-week follow-up.ResultsSome effects were noted, with small-to-medium effect sizes. During comfortable-paced single-task walking, stride length and walk ratio (step length/cadence) increased after arch support use. During comfortable-paced motor dual-task walking, arch support use increased cadence, stride length, and speed and decreased dual-task costs (DTCs) on cadence and speed. During fast-paced motor dual-task walking, cadence increased and the DTC on cadence decreased after arch support use at the 1-week follow-up. During comfortable-paced cognitive dual-task walking, cadence increased and the walk ratio decreased following arch support use. At the 1-week follow-up, DTCs on cadence reduced, but those on stride length and speed increased. During fast-paced cognitive dual-task walking, the speed and stride length demonstrated immediate decreases followed by increases at the 1-week follow-up.ConclusionThe study results indicate that the use of arch support improves single- and motor dual-task gait performance, which may contribute to gait and balance training in older adults.

The execution of the Grooved Pegboard test in a Dual-Task situation: A pilot study

BackgroundManual dexterity is an important aspect in everyday life, which is widely studied through the Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT). Since Dual-Tasks (DT) activities are widely investigated and important to simulate everyday life situations, the objectives of the present pilot study were the evaluation of the effect of a cognitive task and a motor task during the performance of the GPT and the feasibility of the GPT in a DT contest. A secondary objective was to evaluate the training effect of the GPT. MethodsA total of 31 young adults (20 man and 11 woman, age (SD): 27.7 (2.5)) performed the GPT eight times to understand the presence of a training effect before performing the GPT in DT. The additional tasks were a secondary cognitive task and a secondary motor task. ResultsAll participants were able to complete the required conditions. The GPT performed in motor DT were significantly slower than those performed singularly (p < 0.01). The GPT performed with the cognitive task was slower than the secondary motor task (p < 0.05). A training effect was present up to the 4th consecutive trial. ConclusionsThe GPT can be executed with a cognitive or motor task to increase the difficulty of the trial to better evaluate manual dexterity and cognitive capacities.

Postural stability during visual-based cognitive and motor dual-tasks after ACLR

ObjectivesDetermine the effect of visual-based motor and cognitive dual tasking on postural stability in those with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction relative to matched controls. DesignCohort study. MethodsFourteen volunteers with history of anterior crucaite ligament reconstruction were matched with fourteen healthy controls. Participants performed single leg balance tasks under 4 conditions: (1) single leg balance with eyes-open, (2) single leg balance while catching a ball (dual-motor), (3) single leg balance while repeating a string of numbers in reverse order after viewing them (dual-cognitive) and (4) single leg balance with eyes-closed. Participants completed several patient-reported outcomes of knee function. Mixed effects models were used to identify group differences on the center of pressure measures of ellipse area and root-mean-squared excursion (medial–lateral and anterior–posterior). The mixed models included subject pair as a random factor and group (control, anterior cruciate liagement reconstruction), balance condition (eyes-open, eyes-closed, dual-cognitive, and dual-motor), and group*condition as fixed effects. Tukey post-hoc pairwise comparisons were performed for significant interaction and main effects with an α=0.05. ResultsA significant group by condition interaction was observed for ellipse area and medial–lateral root-mean-squared excursion. The anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction group had higher ellipse area (p=0.002, d=0.44) and medial–lateral root-mean-squared excursion (p<0.001, d=0.49). ConclusionsPostural stability is greatly impaired under eyes-closed and dual-motor conditions relative to eyes-open. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed individuals have greater postural instability during the dual-cognitive condition that may indicate unique neural processing deficits remain following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Chewing Entrains Cyclical Actions but Interferes With Discrete Actions in Children

Functional chewing patterns are achieved early in life prior to other motor skills like walking. Chewing seems to improve specific aspects of attention; however, there is limited research on chewing in dual motor tasks. This study examined relationships between chewing and secondary motor tasks in children. Sixteen typically developing children (13.1 ± 2.3 years) participated in finger tapping, simple reaction time, and walking while chewing at different speeds. The chewing rates varied when produced with a secondary motor task, especially for slow chewing and preferred chewing, and the secondary motor tasks were differentially influenced by the chewing. This relationship was not as strong as what has been reported in adults. It appears the neural oscillatory mechanisms involved in chewing and the secondary motor tasks may not be fully developed in children.

Do Muscle Strength And Functional Mobility Underpin Balance Confidence In Older Adults?

PURPOSE: Physiological, psychological and social factors are the three major determinants of falls in older adults. Psychological factors, especially balance confidence, have been suggested to be strongly associated with falls. However, it is unclear whether strength and mobility are associated with balance confidence. The purpose of the current study was to explore whether muscle strength and functional mobility reflect balance confidence in the elderly. METHODS: A group of 27 healthy community-dwelling adults (8M, 19F, 70.22±4.9yrs old) were recruited. Balance confidence was evaluated by using the Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I); functional mobility was measured by single-task Timed Up and Go test (TUG) , motor dual-task TUG and cognitive dual-task TUG tests; upper limb muscle strength was measured by grip strength with a hand dynamometer; lower limb muscle strength was measured by the 30-second Sit to Stand test (30STS). SPSS was used to analyze data, with Pearson’s correlation and independent samples t-test employed to examine the relationships among the measures. RESULTS: Pearson’s correlation showed that FES-I scores for the group were moderately correlated with single TUG (r=0.569,p=0.002), cognitive TUG (r=0.463,p=0.015) and motor TUG scores (r=0.562,p=0.002). However there was no significant correlation between FES-I scores and upper or lower limbs strength (both p>0.05). According to the FES-I cut-point score of 23 for low balance confidence, participants were divided into “high balance confidence” subgroup (n=12) and “low balance confidence” subgroup (n=15). Independent samples t-tests showed significantly worse scores for the low balance confidence subgroup in single task TUG (p=0.035) and motor dual task TUG (p=0.025). CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this preliminary study suggest that balance confidence is associated with functional mobility, but not with muscle strength. Thus, in order to improve balance confidence, interventions based on improving functional mobility, rather than strength, should be particularly targeted involved in physiotherapy programs.

Interference of functional dual-tasks on gait in untrained people with Parkinson\u2019s disease and healthy controls: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundIn Parkinson’s disease (PD) population, performing secondary tasks while walking further deteriorates gait and restrict mobility in functional contexts of daily life. This study (1) analyzed the interference of functional cognitive and motor secondary task on untrained people with PD and (2) compared their walking with healthy subjects.MethodsForty people with PD (aged 66.72 [7.5] years, Hoehn and Yahr stage I-II-III, on-medication) composed the PD group (PDG) and 43 participants (aged 66.60 [8.75] years) formed the group of healthy counterparts (HG). Gait was evaluated through spatiotemporal, kinematic and kinetic outcomes in five conditions: single task (ST) and visual, verbal, auditory and motor dual-task (DT).ResultsThe velocity, stride length, and braking force performance of both groups was statistically higher in the ST condition than in verbal, auditory and motor DT (p < .05), and inferior in double support time and midstance force (p < .05). The same pattern was observed when compared the ST and visual DT condition, where participants showed a significantly higher stride length, double support time and braking force in the ST (p < .05). In addition, the PDG exhibited a significant shorter double support time and midstance force, and showed a higher braking force in the visual DT than in the verbal DT (p < .05). Similarly, the PDG showed a wider stride in the visual DT than in the motor DT condition (p < .05). PDG participants had a significantly lower performance than the HG in all the variables analyzed except for the maximum hip extension in the stance phase (p > .05). Conclusions: In untrained participants with PD, verbal and motor secondary tasks affect gait significantly, while auditory and visual tasks interfere to a lesser extent. Untrained people with PD have a poorer gait performance than their healthy counterparts, but in different grades according to the analyzed variables.Trial registrationThe data in this paper are part of a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial and correspond to the evaluations performed before a physical rehabilitation program, retrospectively registered with the number at clinicaltrial.govNCT04038866.

Factors Predicting Falls in Parkinson’s Disease: Investigation of Motor, Non-motor Findings and Different Dual Task Activities

Factors Predicting Falls in Parkinson’s Disease: Investigation of Motor, Non-motor Findings and Different Dual Task Activities

Factors Predicting Falls in Parkinson’s Disease: Investigation of Motor, Non-motor Findings and Different Dual Task Activities

Factors Predicting Falls in Parkinson’s Disease: Investigation of Motor, Non-motor Findings and Different Dual Task Activities

The Influence of Energy Drinks on Lower Limb Neuromuscular Timing and Postural Sway in Healthy Young Adults

Energy drinks have become popular during the last few years. Many researchers explain the benefits the beverage has on sports or college settings. Other studies focused on the negative position of these drinks, such as reducing blood flow and balance alterations. Various modifications related to energy drink intake might be at a more system and physiological level, like the central nervous system and neuromuscular control. Purpose: This study aims to ascertain the influence of a standard 16-ounce energy drink on neuromuscular timing and standing postural compensation of young, healthy adults while performing a series of complex dual-motor tasks. Methods: Nine females and four males were recruited, screened, and signed the informed consent to be studied for this work. All participants were apparently healthy young adults with no underlying conditions that could potentially impact muscle activation and balance. The Tibialis anterior and Gastrocnemius neuromuscular timing data were collected with surface EMG electrodes. Accelerometers and gyroscopes were used to collect postural sway data. Subjects were asked to execute four balance tasks pre-energy drink consumption, and the same tasks were repeated post energy drink consumption to equate data points. Results: Postural Sway was comparable before and after energy drink intake. Neuromuscular timing data indicates modifications of nerve conduction on the Tibialis anterior and Gastrocnemius musculature. Conclusion: We infer that the ingredients in energy drinks, including guarana and B-vitamins, are altering nerve conduction velocity in postural muscles. Future studies should research the influence of energy drinks in different scenarios and different populations.