Citation

Gagné M, McFadyen BJ, Cossette I, Fait P, Gagnon I, Sirois K, Blanchet S, Le Sage N, Ouellet MC. J. Concussion 2019; 3: e2059700219878291.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/2059700219878291

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVEs

To compare dual-task performance involving different cognitive-locomotor combinations between healthy controls and participants with sub-acute mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and to correlate dual-task performances to history of prior head injuries.

Methods

Eighteen participants having recently sustained mTBI and 15 controls performed nine dual-tasks combining locomotor (level-walking, narrow obstacle, deep obstacle) and cognitive (Stroop task, Verbal fluency, Counting backwards) tasks. Previous history of concussion was also investigated.

Results

Slower gait speeds were observed in the mTBI group compared to controls during both single and dual-tasks. Longer response times to cognitive tasks in the mTBI group further suggested the presence of residual impairments two months following injury. No combination of dual-task was more sensitive. Correlations were observed between history of mTBI and several measures of dual-task performance, underlying the need to further consider the effects of multiple injuries in relation to dual-task walking.

Conclusion

Dual-tasks using simultaneously locomotor and cognitive functions represent an ecological way for clinicians to detect residual, but subtle, alterations post-mTBI. History of previous mTBI needs to be considered as a personal characteristic which may influence dual-task walking performance.

Keywords Mild traumatic brain injury, dual task, gait, cognitive task

Language: en