Effects of Dual-task Exercises on Gait Parameters and Cognitive Function in Elderly Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

NCT02185157 | Completed DMC

• 2 other identifiers: ECAGGOMESUFMG -001CAAE 0448.0.203.000-11
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 68
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The training of a secondary task while walking, whether it is reasoning activities, memory or motor tasks, may enhance automation, walking performance, and postural control and, thus, minimize the risk of falls influenced by the walking patterns variability. However, the literature is scarce regarding the influence of dual-task training on changes in gait parameters. The purpose of this prospective, blinded randomized controlled trial is to compare the short- and long-term effects of dual-task and aerobic training on gait stride variability and superior cerebral functions of independent community-dwelling elderly women. The participants will be randomly allocated into either experimental or control groups.The experimental group will undertake 50 minutes/day of dual-task training, three times/week over 12 weeks, totaling 36 sessions, whereas the control group will receive the same doses of aerobic training. At baseline, after 18 and 36 sessions, and 12 weeks after the cessation of the interventions, researchers blinded to group allocations will collect the outcome measures.The interventions will be delivered by trained physical therapists. Primary outcome will include gait stride variability, which will be assessed by a movement analysis system: the GaitRite® system, during cognitive and motor dual-tasks, at both normal and fast speeds. Secondary outcome measures will include a battery of global and specific cognitive function tests. The findings of this trial may help better understand whether cognitive-motor interventions with older adults, when compared to traditional aerobic training, would result in greater improvements in gait under dual-task conditions and lead to improvements in cognitive tasks. Furthermore, the findings could potentially bring important insights regarding the impacts of improvements in walking abilities and cognition.

Conditions

Healthy

Keywords

elderly; dual-task training; aerobic training; gait; cognition

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• change of gait stride variability

  The change in gait stride variability will be measured by a movement analysis system: The GaitRite® system that gives another gait parameters as speed, step width, double support, etc.

  Baseline, at the sixth week as a intermediary measure, final and three months after the end of the study

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Changes on the Executive function measured by Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R)

  baseline, at the sixth week as a intermediary measure, final and three months after the end of study months later

Other Outcomes (2)

• Changes on Stroop test or the Color-word interference test

  Baseline,at the sixth week as a intermediary measure, final and three months after the end of the study

• Changes on Trail making test

  Baseline, at the sixth week as a intermediary measure, final and three months after the end of the study

Study Arms (2)

Experimental: Dual Task exercises

EXPERIMENTAL

Dual-task training, includes 18 sessions model of cognitive and 12 motor dual-task exercises model, were administered in groups of four participants in a comfortable environment, without distraction effects. The 50-minute sessions included 30 minutes of motor dual-task exercises, and then, the participants were divided into pairs. The first pair performed free walks during 10 minutes at their maximal speeds, while the other received individual cognitive dual-task training for the same time, and these activities will be exchanged, so that all pairs could walk and receive cognitive training.

Other: dual -task exercises

Control intervention: Aerobic training

OTHER

The same doses of aerobic training, i.e., 50 minutes, was delivered in groups of five participants. Each session will include 10 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of aerobic training on an ergometric bicycle at 60 to 80% of the participants' maximum heart rates,and 10 minutes of cool-down exercises.

Other: Aerobic training

Interventions

dual -task exercises OTHER

physical exercises sections with gait and a second task like talk answering some questions or making some exercise with the arms.

Also known as: physical exercises, aerobic training, physical activity

Experimental: Dual Task exercises

Aerobic training OTHER

The same doses of aerobic training, i.e., 50 minutes, was delivered in groups of five participants. Each session will include 10 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of aerobic training on an ergometric bicycle at 60 to 80% of the participants' maximum heart rates,and 10 minutes of cool-down exercises.

Control intervention: Aerobic training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 69 Years - 79 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Elderly women will be eligible if they are between 69 and 79 years of age, have at least three years of schooling,have no cognitive deficits, as determined by the scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination, adjusted for their education levels: ≥23 for three years, ≥25 for four to seven years, and ≥26 for eight or more years of school.

You may not qualify if:

• Participants will be excluded if they have neuromusculoskeletal diseases,which could restrain physical activities or make use of medications, which could interfere with motor performance and/or memory.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Federal University of Minas Gerais: lead

Study Sites (1)

Department of Physical Therapy

Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil

Location

Related Links

• University

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Exercise

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Gisele C. Gomes, Master

  Federal University of Minas Gerais

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 2, 2014
• First Posted: July 9, 2014
• Study Start: October 1, 2011
• Primary Completion: November 1, 2013
• Study Completion: November 1, 2013
• Last Updated: July 9, 2014

Record last verified: 2014-07

Locations

BR (1)