Impact of a dual task on the energy cost of walking in individuals with subacute phase stroke

ObjectiveTo assess the impact of cognitive Dual Task (DT) during walking on the energy cost of walking (Cw) in individuals with subacute stroke. The secondary objective was to determine whether there is an association between the Cw and cortical activity of the prefrontal area.MethodsAny individual with stroke localized in the temporal-parietal regions and able to walk without human assistance was included. Cw and prefrontal cortical activity, recorded by fNIRS, were measured during simple task walking activity and cognitive dual task during walking.ResultsNineteen individuals with stroke (age = 67.7 +/- 9.6 yrs) were included. The cognitive DT during walking resulted in an increase in Cw of 23.1%; 95%CI [13.1%; 34.5%]. The increase in Cw in cognitive DT was correlated with the Cw for the single task walking activity (r = 0.48, p < 0.01) as well as the predominance of cortical activity of the prefrontal area in the contralesional hemisphere (r = -0.33, p < 0.01).ConclusionThere is an increase in Cw during the cognitive DT. This increase is even more significant, as the Cw of the single task walking activity is high, and the cortical activity of the prefrontal areas predominates in the contralesional hemisphere.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the effect of cognitive dual task on the energy cost of walking in individuals with subacute stroke, as well as the association between energy cost and cortical activity. It was found that cognitive dual task significantly increased the energy cost of walking. This increase was correlated with the energy cost of single task walking as well as the predominance of cortical activity in the contralesional hemisphere.