title: The Influence of a Cognitive Dual Task on the Gait Parameters of Healthy Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
abstract: This review examines the effect of a dual task on the gait parameters of older adults with a mean gait speed of 1.0 m/s or greater, and the effect of type and complexity of task. A systematic review of Web of Science, PubMed, SCOPUS, Embase, and PsycINFO was performed in July 2016. Twenty-three studies (28 data sets) were reviewed and pooled for meta-analysis. The effect size on seven gait parameters was measured as the raw mean difference between single- and dual-task performance. Gait speed significantly reduced with the addition of a dual task, with increasing complexity showing greater decrements. Cadence, stride time, and measures of gait variability were all negatively affected under the dual-task condition. In older adults, the addition of a dual task significantly reduces gait speed and cadence, with possible implications for the assessment of older people, as the addition of a dual task may expose deficits not observed under single-task assessment.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cusack
authors.forename: Caitriona
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blake
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D000072797:Walking Speed
keywords: dual task; gait parameters; meta-analysis; older adults