Comparative effects of arithmetic, speech, and motor dual-task walking on gait in stroke survivors: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe application of dual-task walking paradigms for gait assessment in stroke patients is critical, where varying concurrent tasks may elicit distinct gait patterns of dual-task interference. This study assessed the acute effects of different types of dual tasks on gait in stroke patients d...

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Main Authors: Xueyi Zhang, Qi Wang, Qiujie Li, Hui Liu, Xianglin Wan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1587153/full
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author Xueyi Zhang
Xueyi Zhang
Qi Wang
Qiujie Li
Qiujie Li
Hui Liu
Hui Liu
Xianglin Wan
Xianglin Wan
author_facet Xueyi Zhang
Xueyi Zhang
Qi Wang
Qiujie Li
Qiujie Li
Hui Liu
Hui Liu
Xianglin Wan
Xianglin Wan
author_sort Xueyi Zhang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundThe application of dual-task walking paradigms for gait assessment in stroke patients is critical, where varying concurrent tasks may elicit distinct gait patterns of dual-task interference. This study assessed the acute effects of different types of dual tasks on gait in stroke patients during task performance, informing occupational, and physical therapists about care recommendations to prevent patients from falling and improve their balance function in daily life.MethodsA total of 19 stroke patients (52.7 ± 6.9 years old) performed the walking-only and dual-task walking (motor, arithmetic and speech) task test while a 3D motion capture system measured the gait parameters (the gait spatial-temporal parameters, sagittal angle of lower-limb joints, gait parameter variability and dual-task cost). One-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to test the effects of the above four walking conditions on gait parameters.ResultsArithmetic task and speech task interference can affect the gait of stroke patients (P < 0.05). Arithmetic task interference has the greatest impact on step speed, cadence, single support phase, hip joint range in support period and has the greatest dual-task cost, speech task interference has the greatest impact on cadence coefficient of variation (P < 0.05). The motor task was not significantly different from walking-only (P >0.05).ConclusionBoth arithmetic and speech tasks have a great impact on gait in stroke patients. Faced with cognitive interference, stroke patients spontaneously adopted a “cautious gait” walking pattern. In future rehabilitation training, diversity of task types is critical for gait rehabilitation training based on the walking ability of the patients.
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spelling doaj-art-c2bb04165cc34f13a1b72234d566dace2025-08-20T02:16:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612025-05-011910.3389/fnhum.2025.15871531587153Comparative effects of arithmetic, speech, and motor dual-task walking on gait in stroke survivors: a cross-sectional studyXueyi Zhang0Xueyi Zhang1Qi Wang2Qiujie Li3Qiujie Li4Hui Liu5Hui Liu6Xianglin Wan7Xianglin Wan8School of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory for Performance Training and Recovery of General Administration of Sport of China, Beijing, ChinaPeople’s Hospital of Queshan, Zhumadian, Henan, ChinaKey Laboratory for Performance Training and Recovery of General Administration of Sport of China, Beijing, ChinaChina Institute of Sport and Health Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory for Performance Training and Recovery of General Administration of Sport of China, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Sport Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory for Performance Training and Recovery of General Administration of Sport of China, Beijing, ChinaBackgroundThe application of dual-task walking paradigms for gait assessment in stroke patients is critical, where varying concurrent tasks may elicit distinct gait patterns of dual-task interference. This study assessed the acute effects of different types of dual tasks on gait in stroke patients during task performance, informing occupational, and physical therapists about care recommendations to prevent patients from falling and improve their balance function in daily life.MethodsA total of 19 stroke patients (52.7 ± 6.9 years old) performed the walking-only and dual-task walking (motor, arithmetic and speech) task test while a 3D motion capture system measured the gait parameters (the gait spatial-temporal parameters, sagittal angle of lower-limb joints, gait parameter variability and dual-task cost). One-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to test the effects of the above four walking conditions on gait parameters.ResultsArithmetic task and speech task interference can affect the gait of stroke patients (P < 0.05). Arithmetic task interference has the greatest impact on step speed, cadence, single support phase, hip joint range in support period and has the greatest dual-task cost, speech task interference has the greatest impact on cadence coefficient of variation (P < 0.05). The motor task was not significantly different from walking-only (P >0.05).ConclusionBoth arithmetic and speech tasks have a great impact on gait in stroke patients. Faced with cognitive interference, stroke patients spontaneously adopted a “cautious gait” walking pattern. In future rehabilitation training, diversity of task types is critical for gait rehabilitation training based on the walking ability of the patients.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1587153/fullstrokedual-taskgaitvariability of gaitdual-task cost
spellingShingle Xueyi Zhang
Xueyi Zhang
Qi Wang
Qiujie Li
Qiujie Li
Hui Liu
Hui Liu
Xianglin Wan
Xianglin Wan
Comparative effects of arithmetic, speech, and motor dual-task walking on gait in stroke survivors: a cross-sectional study
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
stroke
dual-task
gait
variability of gait
dual-task cost
title Comparative effects of arithmetic, speech, and motor dual-task walking on gait in stroke survivors: a cross-sectional study
title_full Comparative effects of arithmetic, speech, and motor dual-task walking on gait in stroke survivors: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Comparative effects of arithmetic, speech, and motor dual-task walking on gait in stroke survivors: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Comparative effects of arithmetic, speech, and motor dual-task walking on gait in stroke survivors: a cross-sectional study
title_short Comparative effects of arithmetic, speech, and motor dual-task walking on gait in stroke survivors: a cross-sectional study
title_sort comparative effects of arithmetic speech and motor dual task walking on gait in stroke survivors a cross sectional study
topic stroke
dual-task
gait
variability of gait
dual-task cost
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1587153/full
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