Alatawi Salem F, Mahmoud Hayam M
Department of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Medical Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University-Makkah-Saudi Arabia; Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2025 Jan 21;18:269-277. doi: 10.2147/RMHP.S500767. eCollection 2025.
Dual tasking (DT) requires individuals to carry out two actions simultaneously, comparable to how the brain can perform a cognitive function while the body is in motion, which eventually enhances human balance. This paper aims to examine and compare the impact of DT on the risk of falling (ROF) among Saudi female students.
A cross-sectional design was used. 120 female students were recruited and divided into two groups: literary group (LG) (n = 34) and scientific group (SG) (n = 86). Participants, aged 18-25, had a normal body mass index (BMI) and cognitive and balancing skills. ROF was measured using the Biodex balancing device for balance alone (no DT) and with DT (motor and two cognitive tasks). After three trials, the mean and average were calculated. The ICC calculation showed a reliable result of <0.8. BMI was represented as the mean (M) and standard deviation (SD) for both groups. ROF was compared within and between groups using paired and unpaired T-tests. Mann-Whitney compared the two groups throughout DT. The level of significance was P = 0.05.
There was no significant difference in ROF in SG (P = 0.06) between the performance with and without a DT; on the contrary, LG demonstrated a significant difference (P = 0.001) for the same tests. In addition, the only time there was a significant difference between the two groups was when they performed DT (P = 0.006).
Female students who used critical and analytical thinking and motor performance in their study and daily routine were more balanced and resistant to falling than their peers who did not. This study may improve efficient treatments for fall prevention and balance. Future research could investigate the complex nature of additional DT that may be complicated by gender and BMI outside of the normal range.
双重任务（DT）要求个体同时执行两项动作，类似于大脑在身体运动时执行认知功能的方式，最终可增强人体平衡能力。本文旨在研究和比较双重任务对沙特女学生跌倒风险（ROF）的影响。
采用横断面设计。招募了120名女学生，分为两组：文科组（LG）（n = 34）和理科组（SG）（n = 86）。参与者年龄在18 - 25岁之间，身体质量指数（BMI）正常，具备认知和平衡技能。使用Biodex平衡仪分别在仅进行平衡测试（无双重任务）和进行双重任务（运动和两项认知任务）时测量跌倒风险。经过三次测试后，计算平均值。组内相关系数（ICC）计算显示结果可靠，<0.8。用两组的平均值（M）和标准差（SD）表示BMI。使用配对和非配对t检验比较组内和组间的跌倒风险。在整个双重任务过程中，用曼 - 惠特尼检验比较两组。显著性水平为P = 0.05。
理科组在有或无双重任务表现时的跌倒风险无显著差异（P = 0.06）；相反，文科组在相同测试中显示出显著差异（P = 0.001）。此外，两组之间唯一存在显著差异的情况是在执行双重任务时（P = 0.006）。
在学习和日常生活中运用批判性和分析性思维以及运动表现的女学生比未运用的同龄人更加平衡，更不易跌倒。本研究可能会改善预防跌倒和平衡的有效治疗方法。未来的研究可以调查超出正常范围的、可能因性别和BMI而复杂化的其他双重任务的复杂性质。
