The results demonstrate good adherence and evidence of clinical value of this high-intensity, short-duration protocol for reducing cognitive-motor interference and improving balance control in stroke survivors. Future studies should examine the dose-response effects and long-term changes of such DT training paradigm applied to improve fall efficacy.Video Abstract available. See Video (Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A80) for more insights from the authors.

The purpose of this study was to determine if an exergaming-based dance training protocol can improve heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy older adults. A total of 20 healthy older adults (≥65 years old) were randomly assigned to two groups. The intervention group received an exergaming-based dance aerobic training for 6 weeks, while the control group received a 1-hr education on conventional physical exercises. Data obtained from HRV analysis pre- (Week 0) and postintervention (Week 7) consisted of high-frequency power, low- and high-frequency ratio, and root mean square of differences and percentage of adjacent RR intervals with a difference of duration greater than 50 ms values. HRV was assessed during rest and during a 6-min walk test. In addition, the YMCA submaximal cycle ergometer test was used to acquire estimated maximal O2 consumption pre- and postintervention. After the training, the intervention group showed significant improvement in HRV high-frequency power, root mean square of differences, and percentage of adjacent RR intervals with a difference of duration greater than 50 ms values in both rest and 6-min walk test conditions compared with the control group. Similarly, the intervention group showed higher maximal O2 consumption compared with the control group after the training. Our results support the effectiveness of an exergaming-based dance aerobic training on improving cardiac autonomic control in aging.

No abstract

No abstract

To examine the effect of a cognitive task on intentional vs. reactive balance control in people with hemiparetic stroke (PwHS). Community-dwelling PwHS (n = 10) and healthy, age-similar controls performed two tests, which included the Limits of Stability Test (intentional control) and the Motor Control Test (reactive control), under single-task (ST) and dual-task (DT) conditions (addition of a cognitive task). Cognitive ability was measured on a word list generation task by recording the number of words enumerated in sitting (ST; for cognition) and during the balance tasks. The difference in response time between the ST and DT, defined as the "balance cost" was obtained [(ST - DT)/ST × 100] and compared between tests and across groups. The "cognitive cost" was similarly defined and compared. For both groups, the response time under DT condition was significantly greater for intentional than the reactive balance control task, leading to a higher balance cost for this task (P < 0.05). However, the cognitive cost was significantly greater for the intentional than the reactive balance control task for only the PwHS. DT significantly affected intentional than reactive balance control for PwHS. The significant decrease in both balance and cognitive performance under DT compared with ST conditions during intentional balance control suggests sharing of attentional resources between semantic memory and intentional balance control. Decreased performance on the cognitive task only during the reactive balance test indicates possible central nervous system's prioritization of reactive balance control over cognition.