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  • Title: Cognitive load affects lower limb force-time relations during voluntary rapid stepping in healthy old and young adults.
    Author: Melzer I, Liebermann DG, Krasovsky T, Oddsson LI.
    Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci; 2010 Apr; 65(4):400-6. PubMed ID: 19939911.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Quick step execution may prevent falls when balance is lost; adding a concurrent task delays this function. We investigate whether push-off force-time relations during the execution of rapid voluntary stepping is affected by a secondary task in older and young adults. METHODS: Nineteen healthy older adults and 12 young adults performed rapid voluntary stepping under single- and dual-task conditions. Peak power, peak force, and time to peak force during preparatory and swing phases of stepping were extracted from center of pressure and ground reaction force data. RESULTS: For dual-task condition compared with single-task condition, older adults show a longer time to reach peak force during the preparation and swing phases compared with young adults (approximately 25% vs approximately 10%, respectively). Peak power and peak force were not affected by a concurrent attention-demanding task. CONCLUSION: Older adults have difficulty allocating sufficient attention for fast muscle recruitment when concurrently challenged by an attention-demanding task.
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