The effect of a concurrent task on the walking performance of preschool children

Cherng, Rong-Ju; Liang, Ling-Yin; Hwang, Ing-Shiou; Chen, Jenn-Yeu

doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2006.09.004

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Volume 26, Issue 2 , Pages 231-237, July 2007

The effect of a concurrent task on the walking performance of preschool children

Rong-Ju Cherng
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, Ta-Hsueh Road, Tainan 701, Taiwan
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
- Corresponding author at: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, Ta-Hsueh Road, Tainan 701, Taiwan. Tel.: +886 6 2353535x5023; fax: +886 6 2370411.
Ling-Yin Liang
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, Ta-Hsueh Road, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Ing-Shiou Hwang
- Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, Ta-Hsueh Road, Tainan 701, Taiwan
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
Jenn-Yeu Chen
- Institute of Cognitive Science, College of Social Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan

Received 13 April 2006; received in revised form 25 August 2006; accepted 8 September 2006. published online 13 October 2006.

Abstract

Forty-eight children, aged 4–6 years, walked while performing or not performing an easy or difficult concurrent motor task (carrying a tray with or without marbles on it) or cognitive task (repeating a series of digits forwards or backwards). The temporal-distance gait parameters were measured using a GAITRite electronic walkway system. Dual-task costs were calculated as the difference between the children's walking performances with and without the concurrent task. Overall, walking alone was easier than walking while performing a concurrent task. A greater dual-task cost was observed when the concurrent task was difficult compared to when it was easy. However, this effect of difficulty was found for the motor task only. The results suggest that walking demands both the central processing capacity and the domain- and modality-specific processing resources in normal 4–6-year-old children.

Keywords: Gait, Dual task, Children