@article{ref1,
title="Effects of balance status and age on muscle activation while walking under divided attention",
journal="Journals of gerontology. Series B: psychological sciences and social sciences",
year="2007",
author="Fraser, Sarah A. and Li, Karen Z. H. and Demont, Richard G. and Penhune, Virginia B.",
volume="62",
number="3",
pages="171-178",
abstract="We examined the role of attention during different phases of the gait cycle by using a dual-task paradigm. Younger and older adults performed a self-paced treadmill walking task, a semantic judgment task, and both tasks simultaneously. We recorded vocal reaction time for the judgment task, and we recorded muscle activity by the use of electromyography. We derived dual-task costs from difference scores (single vs dual task). Our analysis of the judgment task showed that both groups responded more quickly during dual-task conditions than during single-task conditions. In five of eight muscle groups, stance-phase muscle activity decreased significantly from dual to single task. For older adults, individuals with poor balance increased their muscle activity during dual-task performance. These results suggest that, during moderately demanding walking and cognitive performance, poor balancers can compensate successfully for their motoric vulnerability.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1079-5014",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}