Robert W Motl1, Jacob J Sosnoff2, Deirdre Dlugonski2, Lara A Pilutti2, Rachel Klaren2, Brian M Sandroff2. 1. Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States. Electronic address: robmotl@illinois.edu. 2. Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Performing a cognitive task while walking results in a reduction of walking performance among persons with MS. To date, very little is known about correlates of this dual task cost (DTC) of walking in MS. PURPOSE: We examined walking performance, cognitive processing speed, and symptoms of fatigue, depression, anxiety, and pain as correlates of DTC of walking in MS. METHODS: 82 persons with MS undertook a 6-min walk test (6MWT) and completed the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Short-form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and self-reported Expanded Disability Status Scale (SR-EDSS). The participants completed 4 trials of walking at a self-selected pace on an electronic walkway that recorded spatiotemporal parameters of gait. The first 2 trials were performed without a cognitive task, whereas the second 2 trials were completed while performing a modified Word List Generation task. RESULTS: There were significant and large declines in gait performance with the addition of a cognitive task for velocity (p<.001, η2=.52), cadence (p<.001, η2=.49), and step length (p<.001, η2=.23). 6MWT and SDMT scores correlated with DTC for velocity (r=-.41, p<.001 and r=-.32, p<.001, respectively) and step length (r=-.45, p<.001 and r=-.37, p<.001, respectively); there were no significant associations between FSS, SF-MPQ, and HADS scores with the DTC of walking. Regression analyses indicated that 6MW, but not SDMT, explained variance in DTC for velocity (ΔR2=.11, p<.001) and step length (ΔR2=.13, p<.001), after controlling for SR-EDSS scores. CONCLUSION: Walking performance might be a target of interventions for reducing the DTC of walking in MS.
BACKGROUND: Performing a cognitive task while walking results in a reduction of walking performance among persons with MS. To date, very little is known about correlates of this dual task cost (DTC) of walking in MS. PURPOSE: We examined walking performance, cognitive processing speed, and symptoms of fatigue, depression, anxiety, and pain as correlates of DTC of walking in MS. METHODS: 82 persons with MS undertook a 6-min walk test (6MWT) and completed the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Short-form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and self-reported Expanded Disability Status Scale (SR-EDSS). The participants completed 4 trials of walking at a self-selected pace on an electronic walkway that recorded spatiotemporal parameters of gait. The first 2 trials were performed without a cognitive task, whereas the second 2 trials were completed while performing a modified Word List Generation task. RESULTS: There were significant and large declines in gait performance with the addition of a cognitive task for velocity (p<.001, η2=.52), cadence (p<.001, η2=.49), and step length (p<.001, η2=.23). 6MWT and SDMT scores correlated with DTC for velocity (r=-.41, p<.001 and r=-.32, p<.001, respectively) and step length (r=-.45, p<.001 and r=-.37, p<.001, respectively); there were no significant associations between FSS, SF-MPQ, and HADS scores with the DTC of walking. Regression analyses indicated that 6MW, but not SDMT, explained variance in DTC for velocity (ΔR2=.11, p<.001) and step length (ΔR2=.13, p<.001), after controlling for SR-EDSS scores. CONCLUSION: Walking performance might be a target of interventions for reducing the DTC of walking in MS.
Authors: Erin M Edwards; Deborah A Kegelmeyer; Anne D Kloos; Manon Nitta; Danya Raza; Deborah S Nichols-Larsen; Nora E Fritz Journal: Mult Scler Int Date: 2020-09-08
Authors: Gioella Chaparro; Julia M Balto; Brian M Sandroff; Roee Holtzer; Meltem Izzetoglu; Robert W Motl; Manuel E Hernandez Journal: J Neuroeng Rehabil Date: 2017-06-29 Impact factor: 4.262