Effects on Dual Task Walking

1. Effects on Dual Task Walking John Nguyen, Hannah Smith-Williams, & Heather Phipps KINS 3591.02

2. Introduction • Proficient Walking • Heel-forefoot pattern • Increased stride length • Increased walking velocity VIDEO

3. Literature #1 • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167945706000285 • “Relationships between dual-task related changes in stride velocity and stride time variability in healthy older adults” • Purpose: Observe gait changes, if any, in healthy older adults and see if there’s a relation to attention • 45 healthy adults (ages 60-71) • 4 experimental conditions • Walking at a normal self pace, walking at a slow self pace, performing a verbal task while sitting, perform a verbal task while walking • Results: • Significant dual-task decrease in stride velocity • Decrease in walking speed for dual-task walking • Effect of walking speed on stride time • Dual-task gait changes -increase in stops, lateral deviation, steps, walking time • Verbal task decrease mean stride velocity & stride time, increase stride time variability • Conclusion: • Dual-task related to attention demand of verbal task • -involves cortical regions

4. Literature #2 • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457511001965 • “Distraction and pedestrian safety: How talking on the phone, texting, and listening to music impact crossing the street” • Purpose: Experts test the impact of pedestrian safety due to distractions • 138 college students (ages 17-45) • Four groups: • Crossing while talking on the phone, crossing while texting, crossing while listening to music, crossing undistracted • Complete 10 trials in virtual pedestrian environment • Results: • Music & text group experienced more “hits” vs. undistracted • All 3 dual-task groups looked away from street environment • Conclusion: • Texting  more cognitively distracting vs. talking • Talking  more cognitively distracting vs. listening to music • Listening to music  constant disruption

5. Literature #3 • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966636211008046 • “Cell phones change the way we walk” • Purpose: observe participants’ changes, if any, of walking in 3 conditions • Hypothesis: Cell phone use will negatively influence walking, and texting will lead to greater disruptions • 33 participants (age range 26) • Three groups (11 each) • Walking undistracted (WALK), walking while talking on phone (TALK), walking while texting (TEXT) • 1 familiarization trial, 2 trails for analysis (a week later) • Results • TEXT group- 61% increase in lateral deviation & 13% increase in linear distance traveled • WALK group- no decrease in walking speed • WALK & TALK group- no increase in linear distance traveled • Conclusion • Texting & talking on cell phones influence walking • Cell phone use  unable to maintain walking speed • Texting  affects safety • Cell phone use affects memory • Dual task walking impacts executive function • Texting condition had greater interference

6. Purpose To test the participants ability to walk undistracted, then distracted while doing dual tasks and observe the changes. • Observing: • Stride Length • Step Length • Gait Velocity • Cadence

7. Hypothesis The subject will show a significant change in the direction they walk along with consistency when they are performing a dual task walk compared to walking undistracted.

8. Methods: Participants

9. Equipment • 2 Anti Force Plates • 10 Camera Vicon System • Labeling: Vicon Nexus • Retro Reflective Markers • Data Collection: 250 Hertz • Processing: KWON 3D XP • Starting Marker • iPhone4S Cellphone • Headphones • 2.27 kg Handbag

10. Procedure • Set-up computer program • Calibration • Put retro reflective markers on designated body segments • Taped reflectors on participant’s attire, if needed • Perform test trial • Removed retro reflective markers (Medial Knee & Medial Ankle) • Participant performed 6 trials of walking • Participant performed 5 trials of dual-task walking

11. Resultant Body Segments • Shank • -LA=Left Ankle • -RA=Right Ankle • -LK=Left Knee • -RK=Right Knee • Foot • -RF=Right Foot • -LF=Left Foot • -RT=Right Toe • -LT=Left Toe • -RH=Right Hell • -LH=Left Heel • Pelvis -RASIS=Right Anterior Superior Illiac Spine -LASIS=Left Anterior Superior Illiac Spine -SAC= back sacrum • Thigh -RK=Right Knee -LK= Left Knee -RH=Right Hip -LH=Left Hip

12. Results: Visual Events

13. Results

14. Results Center of Pressure: Force Plate 1/ Y Axis

15. Possible Sources of Error • Only used one age group • Her personal phone was used • Texting the same sentence • Participant was aware of the experiment

16. Conclusion Hypothesis was incorrect. • Little or no significant change in stride length, step length, gait velocity, and cadence. • Significant change in center of pressure when normally walking compared to walking with distractions.

17. Ways to improve the study: • Obstacles • Target • More participants • Even gender ratio • Age range • Unaware of study’s purpose

18. References • Dubost V., Kressig R.W., Gonthier R., Herrmann F.R., Aminian K., Najafi B., Beauchet O. (2006). Relationships between dual-task related changes in stride velocity and stride time variability in healthy older adults. Human Movement Science, 25(3), pp. 372-382. • Lamberg E., Muratori L. (2011). Cell phones change the way we walk. Gait & Posture. 35(4), pp. 688–690 • Schwebel D., Stavrinos D., Byington K., Davis T., O’Neal E., Jong D. (2011). Distraction and pedestrian safety: How talking on the phone, texting, and listening to music impact crossing the street. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 45, pp. 266–271. • Texting while walking FAIL -- epic fail compilation[Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9H2q6yYKSI

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