Constanza San Martín Valenzuela1, Lirios Dueñas Moscardó2, Juan López-Pascual3, Pilar Serra-Añó4, José M Tomás5. 1. Unit of Personal Autonomy, Dependency and Mental Disorder Assessment, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat de València, València, Spain; Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Universitat de València, València, Spain; UBIC Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Universitat de València, València, Spain; Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain. 2. Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Universitat de València, València, Spain. 3. Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia, Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain. 4. Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Universitat de València, València, Spain; UBIC Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Universitat de València, València, Spain. Electronic address: pilar.serra@uv.es. 5. Department of Behavioral Sciences Methodology, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat de València, València, Spain.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to analyze the effects of a dual-task group program, to compare it with the effects of a single-task group program, and to analyze the effects of functional secondary tasks. DESIGN: Single-blind randomized controlled trial. SETTING:University laboratory and a rehabilitation gym at a health center. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=40) with a diagnosis of Parkinson disease (mean age, 66.72y; age range, 44-79y) with Hoehn and Yahr stage I to III who were on medication were randomized to either a group with dual-task training or a group with single-task training (only gait). INTERVENTION: Both interventions involved 20 sessions lasting 1 hour each and conducted twice a week. Dual-task training included walking exercises and cognitive or motor tasks carried out separately, then later performed together as a dual-task according to a progressive protocol in the same training session. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Velocity and spatiotemporal parameters of gait were measured without a secondary task and during dual-task gait combined with a visual, verbal, auditory, and motor task. In addition, executive cognitive function and quality of life were measured. Assessments were conducted at baseline, postrehabilitation, and at the 8-week follow-up. RESULTS: The dual-task group demonstrated improved velocity and stride length time in all assessment conditions after training (P<.05), as well as perceived quality of life (P<.05). The single-task group experienced improvements in the same outcomes for only the motor condition (P<.05) after training, but failed to improve perceived quality of life (P>.05). Likewise, the dual-task group showed higher velocity and stride length after treatment than the single-task group across conditions. No significant changes were observed in cognitive performance (P>.05), although the dual-task group tended to improve performance during the executive function test. CONCLUSIONS:Dual-task training in functional contexts is associated with greater improvements in velocity and stride length in patients with PD compared with regular physiotherapy without secondary tasks. Dual-task training also improves perceived quality of life.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to analyze the effects of a dual-task group program, to compare it with the effects of a single-task group program, and to analyze the effects of functional secondary tasks. DESIGN: Single-blind randomized controlled trial. SETTING: University laboratory and a rehabilitation gym at a health center. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=40) with a diagnosis of Parkinson disease (mean age, 66.72y; age range, 44-79y) with Hoehn and Yahr stage I to III who were on medication were randomized to either a group with dual-task training or a group with single-task training (only gait). INTERVENTION: Both interventions involved 20 sessions lasting 1 hour each and conducted twice a week. Dual-task training included walking exercises and cognitive or motor tasks carried out separately, then later performed together as a dual-task according to a progressive protocol in the same training session. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Velocity and spatiotemporal parameters of gait were measured without a secondary task and during dual-task gait combined with a visual, verbal, auditory, and motor task. In addition, executive cognitive function and quality of life were measured. Assessments were conducted at baseline, postrehabilitation, and at the 8-week follow-up. RESULTS: The dual-task group demonstrated improved velocity and stride length time in all assessment conditions after training (P<.05), as well as perceived quality of life (P<.05). The single-task group experienced improvements in the same outcomes for only the motor condition (P<.05) after training, but failed to improve perceived quality of life (P>.05). Likewise, the dual-task group showed higher velocity and stride length after treatment than the single-task group across conditions. No significant changes were observed in cognitive performance (P>.05), although the dual-task group tended to improve performance during the executive function test. CONCLUSIONS: Dual-task training in functional contexts is associated with greater improvements in velocity and stride length in patients with PD compared with regular physiotherapy without secondary tasks. Dual-task training also improves perceived quality of life.
Authors: Elisa Pelosin; Chiara Ponte; Martina Putzolu; Giovanna Lagravinese; Jeffrey M Hausdorff; Alice Nieuwboer; Pieter Ginis; Lynn Rochester; Lisa Alcock; Bastiaan R Bloem; Freek Nieuwhof; Andrea Cereatti; Ugo Della Croce; Anat Mirelman; Laura Avanzino Journal: Front Aging Neurosci Date: 2022-01-05 Impact factor: 5.750