Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Dr., Birmingham, AL, 35229, United States.
Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Dr., Birmingham, AL, 35229, United States.
Gait Posture. 2021 Oct;90:148-153. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.08.013. Epub 2021 Aug 21.
Treadmill desks have been used extensively to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary time in the work environment. However, dual tasking, such as simultaneously walking and performing a cognitive task, may result in diminished performance in one or both tasks.
Do age and sex impact ability to dual task while using a treadmill desk at a preferred walking speed?.
A total of n = 24 younger (range of 18-24 years, mean age = 21.1 ± 1.6 years) and n = 25 older (range of 45-65 years, mean age = 53.0 ± 5.1 years) adults self-selected a comfortable walking speed ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 mph and performed the Stroop Color & Word test (measuring Inhibition) and the Sternberg Test of Working Memory (measuring Working Memory) while walking at their chosen speed on a treadmill desk and while seated. Testing was performed in two separate sessions with the order counterbalanced. Step length, stride length, gait cycle time, and coefficient of variation (CV) for each were measured using OptoGait software, and both reaction time and accuracy for the two cognitive tests were assessed. Dual Task Cost (DTC) was calculated by using the formula (Single task score - Dual task score)/Single task score)*100.
Younger adults had faster reaction time compared to older adults for both Working Memory and Inhibition tests (p < 0.05), and both males and females had slower reaction time for the Working Memory test when seated compared to walking (p < 0.05). For DTC, older adults had greater stride length CV during the Working Memory task (32.0 % vs 19.6 %), and regardless of age or sex, DTC for gait was greater than for cognition.
These data provide evidence that while aging does decrease reaction time while dual tasking, few age differences and no sex differences were found in dual task cost. However, dual tasking results in diminished gait DTC compared to cognition DTC regardless of age or sex.
跑步机办公桌已被广泛用于增加工作环境中的体力活动并减少久坐时间。然而，同时进行双重任务，例如同时行走和执行认知任务，可能会导致一项或两项任务的表现下降。
在以喜欢的步行速度使用跑步机办公桌时，年龄和性别是否会影响完成双重任务的能力？
共有 24 名年轻成年人（年龄范围为 18-24 岁，平均年龄为 21.1 ± 1.6 岁）和 25 名年长成年人（年龄范围为 45-65 岁，平均年龄为 53.0 ± 5.1 岁）自愿选择舒适的步行速度，范围为 0.5 至 2.0 英里/小时，并在跑步机办公桌和坐姿下以所选速度行走时进行斯特鲁普颜色和文字测试（测量抑制）和斯腾伯格工作记忆测试（测量工作记忆）。测试在两个单独的会话中进行，顺序平衡。使用 OptoGait 软件测量每个步长、步幅、步态周期时间和变异系数（CV），并评估两项认知测试的反应时间和准确性。通过使用公式（单项任务得分-双重任务得分）/单项任务得分）*100 来计算双重任务成本（DTC）。
与年长成年人相比，年轻成年人在工作记忆和抑制测试中的反应时间都更快（p<0.05），而男性和女性在工作记忆测试中坐姿时的反应时间都比行走时慢（p<0.05）。对于 DTC，年长成年人在工作记忆任务中的步幅 CV 更大（32.0%对 19.6%），无论年龄或性别如何，步态的 DTC 都大于认知的 DTC。
这些数据表明，虽然随着年龄的增长，双重任务时的反应时间会减慢，但在双重任务成本方面，年龄差异很小，性别差异也很小。然而，无论年龄或性别如何，双重任务都会导致步态 DTC 降低，而认知 DTC 降低。
