Highlights
- •This was a single-blind randomized controlled trial, with 8 weeks of follow-up study.
- •Dual-task gait training was compared with gait training in Parkinson disease.
- •Training effects were evaluated in single- and dual-task conditions.
- •The dual-task training group demonstrated improved velocity, stride length, and double support time.
- •Dual-task training has a greater effect on single gait and visual dual-task gait.
Abstract
Objectives
The aims of this study were to analyze the effects of a dual-task group program, to
compare it with the effects of a single-task group program, and to analyze the effects
of functional secondary tasks.
Design
Single-blind randomized controlled trial.
Setting
University laboratory and a rehabilitation gym at a health center.
Participants
Patients (N=40) with a diagnosis of Parkinson disease (mean age, 66.72y; age range,
44-79y) with Hoehn and Yahr stage I to III who were on medication were randomized
to either a group with dual-task training or a group with single-task training (only
gait).
Intervention
Both interventions involved 20 sessions lasting 1 hour each and conducted twice a
week. Dual-task training included walking exercises and cognitive or motor tasks carried
out separately, then later performed together as a dual-task according to a progressive
protocol in the same training session.
Main Outcome Measures
Velocity and spatiotemporal parameters of gait were measured without a secondary task
and during dual-task gait combined with a visual, verbal, auditory, and motor task.
In addition, executive cognitive function and quality of life were measured. Assessments
were conducted at baseline, postrehabilitation, and at the 8-week follow-up.
Results
The dual-task group demonstrated improved velocity and stride length time in all assessment
conditions after training (P<.05), as well as perceived quality of life (P<.05). The single-task group experienced improvements in the same outcomes for only
the motor condition (P<.05) after training, but failed to improve perceived quality of life (P>.05). Likewise, the dual-task group showed higher velocity and stride length after
treatment than the single-task group across conditions. No significant changes were
observed in cognitive performance (P>.05), although the dual-task group tended to improve performance during the executive
function test.
Conclusions
Dual-task training in functional contexts is associated with greater improvements
in velocity and stride length in patients with PD compared with regular physiotherapy
without secondary tasks. Dual-task training also improves perceived quality of life.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
DT (dual-task), MANOVA (multivariate analysis of variance), PD (Parkinson disease), ST (single-task)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 11, 2020
Footnotes
Disclosures: none.
Clinical Trial Registration No.: NCT04038866.
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
