Cognitive-motor interference during walking with modified leg mechanics: a dual-task walking study
BackgroundThe use of mobile exoskeletons as assistive walking devices has the potential to affect the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system due to their weight and restricted range of motion. This may result in physical and cognitive load for the user. Understanding how lower extremity loading...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1375029/full |
| _version_ | 1827278424211718144 |
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| author | Norman Riedel Michael Herzog Thorsten Stein Barbara Deml |
| author_facet | Norman Riedel Michael Herzog Thorsten Stein Barbara Deml |
| author_sort | Norman Riedel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe use of mobile exoskeletons as assistive walking devices has the potential to affect the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system due to their weight and restricted range of motion. This may result in physical and cognitive load for the user. Understanding how lower extremity loading affects cognitive-motor interference is crucial for the design of wearable devices, including powered exoskeletons, and the development of effective training interventions.ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the effects of modified leg mechanics on cognitive-motor interference in dual-task walking. Gait variability, as an indicator of motor control, was analyzed to investigate its relation to cognitive task difficulty and to determine whether lower extremity loading modifies this relationship. Additionally, the impact on the gait pattern, as represented by the mean values of spatio-temporal gait parameters were investigated.MethodFifteen healthy young adults walked on a treadmill with and without weight cuffs bilaterally attached to their thighs and shanks while performing a visual-verbal Stroop test (simple task) and a serial subtraction task (difficult task). Dependent variables include mean values and variability (coefficients of variation) of step length, step width, stride time and double support time. Additionally, secondary task performance as correct response rates and perceived workload were assessed.ResultsDouble support time variability decreased during dual-task walking, but not during walking with modified leg mechanics while performing the difficult secondary task. Walking with modified leg mechanics resulted in increased gait variability compared to normal walking, regardless of cognitive load. During walking with modified leg mechanics, step length, step width, and stride time increased, while double support time decreased. The secondary tasks did not affect the gait pattern.ConclusionThe interplay between an external focus of attention and competition for attentional resources may influence the variability of double support time. The findings suggest that walking with modified leg mechanics could increase cognitive-motor interference for healthy young adults in demanding dual-task situations. Therefore, it is important to analyze the underlying mechanisms of cognitive-motor interference in the context of human-exoskeleton interaction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:57:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d9bcb5f24d564ad79b7b54be258e6760 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T07:57:38Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d9bcb5f24d564ad79b7b54be258e67602024-04-18T05:01:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782024-04-011510.3389/fpsyg.2024.13750291375029Cognitive-motor interference during walking with modified leg mechanics: a dual-task walking studyNorman Riedel0Michael Herzog1Thorsten Stein2Barbara Deml3Institute of Human and Industrial Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, GermanyBioMotion Center, Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, GermanyBioMotion Center, Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, GermanyInstitute of Human and Industrial Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, GermanyBackgroundThe use of mobile exoskeletons as assistive walking devices has the potential to affect the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system due to their weight and restricted range of motion. This may result in physical and cognitive load for the user. Understanding how lower extremity loading affects cognitive-motor interference is crucial for the design of wearable devices, including powered exoskeletons, and the development of effective training interventions.ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the effects of modified leg mechanics on cognitive-motor interference in dual-task walking. Gait variability, as an indicator of motor control, was analyzed to investigate its relation to cognitive task difficulty and to determine whether lower extremity loading modifies this relationship. Additionally, the impact on the gait pattern, as represented by the mean values of spatio-temporal gait parameters were investigated.MethodFifteen healthy young adults walked on a treadmill with and without weight cuffs bilaterally attached to their thighs and shanks while performing a visual-verbal Stroop test (simple task) and a serial subtraction task (difficult task). Dependent variables include mean values and variability (coefficients of variation) of step length, step width, stride time and double support time. Additionally, secondary task performance as correct response rates and perceived workload were assessed.ResultsDouble support time variability decreased during dual-task walking, but not during walking with modified leg mechanics while performing the difficult secondary task. Walking with modified leg mechanics resulted in increased gait variability compared to normal walking, regardless of cognitive load. During walking with modified leg mechanics, step length, step width, and stride time increased, while double support time decreased. The secondary tasks did not affect the gait pattern.ConclusionThe interplay between an external focus of attention and competition for attentional resources may influence the variability of double support time. The findings suggest that walking with modified leg mechanics could increase cognitive-motor interference for healthy young adults in demanding dual-task situations. Therefore, it is important to analyze the underlying mechanisms of cognitive-motor interference in the context of human-exoskeleton interaction.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1375029/fullcognitive-motor interferencedual-task walkinglower extremity loadingmodified leg mechanicsexoskeletonattentional processes |
| spellingShingle | Norman Riedel Michael Herzog Thorsten Stein Barbara Deml Cognitive-motor interference during walking with modified leg mechanics: a dual-task walking study Frontiers in Psychology cognitive-motor interference dual-task walking lower extremity loading modified leg mechanics exoskeleton attentional processes |
| title | Cognitive-motor interference during walking with modified leg mechanics: a dual-task walking study |
| title_full | Cognitive-motor interference during walking with modified leg mechanics: a dual-task walking study |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive-motor interference during walking with modified leg mechanics: a dual-task walking study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive-motor interference during walking with modified leg mechanics: a dual-task walking study |
| title_short | Cognitive-motor interference during walking with modified leg mechanics: a dual-task walking study |
| title_sort | cognitive motor interference during walking with modified leg mechanics a dual task walking study |
| topic | cognitive-motor interference dual-task walking lower extremity loading modified leg mechanics exoskeleton attentional processes |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1375029/full |
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