Effect of dual tasks on balance ability in stroke patients

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of training using dual tasks on balance ability in stroke patients. [Subjects] Forty stroke patients were divided into a dual-task training group (N = 20) and a single task training group (N = 20) randomly. [Methods] The subjects in the single-task traing group stood in a comfortable position, faced a therapist, then threw a Swiss ball back and forth. They then performed balance training in which they raised and lowered their ankles while facing forward or moved objects from one table to another. The DTG performed dual tasks, which involved performing a task on an unstable surface using a balance pad. Both groups received training 30 min per day, five times per week, for eight weeks. [Results] The DTG showed significant increases in weight distribution rate, anterior limit of stability, posterior limit of stability, and BBS scores compared with the STG. [Conclusion] According to the results of this study, dual-task training and single-task training were effective in improving balance in stroke patients, dual task training is more effective for increasing balance ability.

Effect of dual-task training on postural stability in children with infantile hemiparesis

“…Future studies should investigate the effect of various cognitive skills on balance through postural sway 31 ) . Additionally, future research should investigate the different effects of dual motor task training in patients with neurological deficits from various viewpoints depending upon activities of daily living and gait 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ) .…”

Dual-task training effects on motor and cognitive functional abilities in individuals with stroke: a systematic review

“…A total of 457 participants were studied. Twelve studies [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][23][24][25][26] involved individuals with chronic stroke (onset more than 6 months) in their samples, whereas only one study recruited participants at the sub-acute stage (onset less than 6 months). 22 All participants could walk independently at least 10 meters, follow 3-step commands, and without apparent aphasia.…”

“…All studies compared the outcomes of the dual-task training group with those of the singletask training group (Tables 2-4), 14,15,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] with the exception of Yang et al, 16 which compared the training group with a no-intervention control group (Table 2).…”

“…Despite the different training protocols adopted, dual-task training program could significantly improve most gait parameters [14][15][16][17][18][24][25][26] and balance function under single-task conditions. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] There was no evidence, however, to suggest that dual-task training was superior to single-task training in improving gait parameters under dual-task condition. 17,18 The beneficial effects of dual-task training on single-task cognitive function 18 and other outcomes 20,22 were evaluated by one study only and thus inconclusive.…”

“…Balance-motor dual-task training was evaluated in three studies (Table 3). [19][20][21] All balance performances were assessed in single-task condition. Overall, both the laboratory-based and clinical balance outcomes showed significantly better improvement after dual-task training compared with single-task balance training, with small to large effect sizes.…”