Balance Training and Multi-Task Performance in Seniors

Age-related impairment in gait patterns when simultaneously performing cognitive (CI) and/or motor (MI) interference tasks are associated with an increased risk of falling in seniors. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of balance training (BT) on walking performance with and without concurrently performing a CI and/or MI task in seniors. Twenty healthy women (n=14) and men (n=6) were assigned to either an intervention (n=11, age 71.9 +/- 4.8 yrs) or a control group (n=9, age 74.9 +/- 6.3 yrs). The intervention group conducted a six week BT (3/week). Pre and post tests included the assessment of stride-to-stride variability during single (walking), dual (CI or MI + walking), and triple (CI + MI + walking) task walking on an instrumented walkway. BT resulted in statistically significant reductions in stride time variability under single (p = 0.02, Delta 34.8%) but not dual or triple-task walking. Significant improvements in the MI task (p = 0.05, Delta 39.1%), but not in the CI task were found while walking. Findings showed that improved performance during single-task walking did not transfer to walking under dual or triple-task conditions suggesting multi-task BT as an alternative training modality. Improvement of the secondary motor but not cognitive task may indicate the need for the involvement of motor and particularly cognitive tasks during BT.