The effect of dividing attention between walking and auxiliary tasks in people with Parkinson's disease

Abstract

This controlled study examined the effects of dividing attention between walking and the performance of a secondary cognitive task in people with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease (Hoehn and Yahr stages 2-3.5). Participants in the training group (n= 6) received 30. min divided attention training in taking big steps while simultaneously performing serial three subtractions. Participants in the control group (n= 6) received no training. Stride length, gait velocity and accurate enumeration rate were measured at baseline, immediate after training and 30. min after training under single-task (walk only or subtract only) and dual-task (walk and subtract) conditions. Data were also collected at..