Dual-Task Interference: The Effects of Verbal Cognitive Tasks on Upright Postural Stability in Parkinson's Disease

Although dual-task interference has previously been demonstrated to have a significant effect on postural control among individuals with Parkinson's disease, the impact of speech complexity on postural control has not been demonstrated using quantitative biomechanical measures. The postural sta...

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Main Authors: J. D. Holmes, M. E. Jenkins, A. M. Johnson, S. G. Adams, S. J. Spaulding
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2010-01-01
Series:Parkinson's Disease
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2010/696492
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author J. D. Holmes
M. E. Jenkins
A. M. Johnson
S. G. Adams
S. J. Spaulding
author_facet J. D. Holmes
M. E. Jenkins
A. M. Johnson
S. G. Adams
S. J. Spaulding
author_sort J. D. Holmes
collection DOAJ
description Although dual-task interference has previously been demonstrated to have a significant effect on postural control among individuals with Parkinson's disease, the impact of speech complexity on postural control has not been demonstrated using quantitative biomechanical measures. The postural stability of twelve participants with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and twelve healthy age-matched controls was evaluated under three conditions: (1) without a secondary task, (2) performing a rote repetition task and (3) generating a monologue. Results suggested a significant effect of cognitive load on biomechanical parameters of postural stability. Although both groups increased their postural excursion, individuals with Parkinson's disease demonstrated significantly reduced excursion as compared with that of healthy age-matched controls. This suggests that participants with Parkinson's disease may be overconstraining their postural adjustments in order to focus attention on the cognitive tasks without losing their balance. Ironically, this overconstraint may place the participant at greater risk for a fall.
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spelling doaj-art-4e9dea68acec47f6b4a9578a24fa1cd42025-08-20T03:36:40ZengWileyParkinson's Disease2042-00802010-01-01201010.4061/2010/696492696492Dual-Task Interference: The Effects of Verbal Cognitive Tasks on Upright Postural Stability in Parkinson's DiseaseJ. D. Holmes0M. E. Jenkins1A. M. Johnson2S. G. Adams3S. J. Spaulding4School of Occupational Therapy, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6G 1H1, CanadaDepartment of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5A5, CanadaSchool of Health Studies, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B9, CanadaSchool of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6G 1H1, CanadaSchool of Occupational Therapy, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6G 1H1, CanadaAlthough dual-task interference has previously been demonstrated to have a significant effect on postural control among individuals with Parkinson's disease, the impact of speech complexity on postural control has not been demonstrated using quantitative biomechanical measures. The postural stability of twelve participants with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and twelve healthy age-matched controls was evaluated under three conditions: (1) without a secondary task, (2) performing a rote repetition task and (3) generating a monologue. Results suggested a significant effect of cognitive load on biomechanical parameters of postural stability. Although both groups increased their postural excursion, individuals with Parkinson's disease demonstrated significantly reduced excursion as compared with that of healthy age-matched controls. This suggests that participants with Parkinson's disease may be overconstraining their postural adjustments in order to focus attention on the cognitive tasks without losing their balance. Ironically, this overconstraint may place the participant at greater risk for a fall.http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2010/696492
spellingShingle J. D. Holmes
M. E. Jenkins
A. M. Johnson
S. G. Adams
S. J. Spaulding
Dual-Task Interference: The Effects of Verbal Cognitive Tasks on Upright Postural Stability in Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's Disease
title Dual-Task Interference: The Effects of Verbal Cognitive Tasks on Upright Postural Stability in Parkinson's Disease
title_full Dual-Task Interference: The Effects of Verbal Cognitive Tasks on Upright Postural Stability in Parkinson's Disease
title_fullStr Dual-Task Interference: The Effects of Verbal Cognitive Tasks on Upright Postural Stability in Parkinson's Disease
title_full_unstemmed Dual-Task Interference: The Effects of Verbal Cognitive Tasks on Upright Postural Stability in Parkinson's Disease
title_short Dual-Task Interference: The Effects of Verbal Cognitive Tasks on Upright Postural Stability in Parkinson's Disease
title_sort dual task interference the effects of verbal cognitive tasks on upright postural stability in parkinson s disease
url http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2010/696492
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