Effects of Dual-task Exercises on Gait Parameters and Cognitive Function in Elderly Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Condition: Healthy
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The training of a secondary task while walking, whether it is reasoning activities, memory or
      motor tasks, may enhance automation, walking performance, and postural control and, thus,
      minimize the risk of falls influenced by the walking patterns variability. However, the
      literature is scarce regarding the influence of dual-task training on changes in gait
      parameters.

      The purpose of this prospective, blinded randomized controlled trial is to compare the short-
      and long-term effects of dual-task and aerobic training on gait stride variability and
      superior cerebral functions of independent community-dwelling elderly women.

      The participants will be randomly allocated into either experimental or control groups.The
      experimental group will undertake 50 minutes/day of dual-task training, three times/week over
      12 weeks, totaling 36 sessions, whereas the control group will receive the same doses of
      aerobic training. At baseline, after 18 and 36 sessions, and 12 weeks after the cessation of
      the interventions, researchers blinded to group allocations will collect the outcome
      measures.The interventions will be delivered by trained physical therapists.

      Primary outcome will include gait stride variability, which will be assessed by a movement
      analysis system: the GaitRite® system, during cognitive and motor dual-tasks, at both normal
      and fast speeds. Secondary outcome measures will include a battery of global and specific
      cognitive function tests.

      The findings of this trial may help better understand whether cognitive-motor interventions
      with older adults, when compared to traditional aerobic training, would result in greater
      improvements in gait under dual-task conditions and lead to improvements in cognitive tasks.
      Furthermore, the findings could potentially bring important insights regarding the impacts of
      improvements in walking abilities and cognition.
    

Detailed description: 
      Socially speaking, the findings could potentially bring important insights regarding the
      impacts of improvements in walking abilities and cognition. If the elderly maintain safe gait
      patterns that prevent falls, they could reach self-sustained community participation and
      consequently reduce the burden of care on the family and caregivers. Additionally, the public
      health system may ultimately receive important positive economic and social impacts. This
      clinical trial may be reproduced in research and clinical practice environments.
    

Intervention name(s): dual -task exercises; Aerobic training
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): physical exercises sections with gait and a second task like talk answering some questions or making some exercise with the arms.; The same doses of aerobic training, i.e., 50 minutes, was delivered in groups of five participants. Each session will include 10 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of aerobic training on an ergometric bicycle at 60 to 80% of the participants' maximum heart rates,and 10 minutes of cool-down exercises.
Other intervention name(s): physical exercises; aerobic training; physical activity
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple (Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: elderly; dual-task training; aerobic training; gait; cognition