title: Influence of dual task constraints during walking for children.
abstract: The effects of dual-task constraints on bimanual coordination and walking in three age groups: young (4-6 years old), middle (7-9 years old), and older groups (10-13 years old) were examined. Children were asked to first walk along a path (baseline condition) and then to walk along the same path while carrying a box steady and level (dual-task condition). The young group showed less bimanual coordination with less level and more variable normalized vertical box positioning (mean hand differences, young: 3.68%, middle: 2.42%, older: 1.61%), less correlated hand movements (mean correlation, young: r(8)=0.58, middle: r(8)=0.77, older: r(8)=0.79), and more elbow and shoulder joint excursion on the dominant side (all Ps<0.05). In addition, the young group had shorter stride lengths and less normalized anterior/posterior ground reaction forces under the dual-task condition than the baseline condition (all Ps<0.05). These findings indicate that 4- to 6-year-old children might still be developing their ability to perform activities requiring dual-task constraints that involve simultaneous use of the upper and lower extremities.
authors: Department of Family, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, Queens College, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, USA. yaching.hung@qc.cuny.edu
authors: Ya-Ching
authors: YC
authors: Hung
authors: Geneva S
authors: GS
authors: Meredith
authors: Simone V
authors: SV
authors: Gill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Bimanual coordination; Children; Development; Gait; Kinematics