Date of Award
5-1-2024
Degree Type
DPT Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Advisor
Michelle L. Gutierrez
Abstract
Background: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) presents significant challenges, with cognitive and motor deficits often persisting long after the initial injury. Current assessment methods may fail to detect subtle impairments, highlighting the need for more comprehensive evaluation techniques. This pilot study aims to investigate the efficacy of cognitive dual-task assessments in detecting subtle gait deficits associated with concussion/mild Traumatic Brain Injury (c/mTBI), with a focus on identifying which cognitive dual task would provide the most cognitive cost and afford motion capture sensors the ability to detect subtle gait changes.
Methods: Twenty-two participants without prior concussion or mTBI history underwent dual-task assessments combining normal and tandem walking with verbal and arithmetic cognitive tasks. Gait parameters were recorded using motion capture sensors, and cognitive costs were calculated to evaluate task performance.
Results: Differences were observed in gait speed between single task and dual-task tandem walking conditions noted by weak correlation. However, cognitive tasks (verbal vs. arithmetic) did not significantly impact cognitive costs when combined with tandem walking. Motion capture sensors exhibited limitations in detecting differences between cognitive and motor tasks.
Conclusions: While tandem walking dual-task conditions revealed more pronounced deficits in gait speed, cognitive tasks did not significantly affect cognitive costs of tandem walking. Motion capture sensors demonstrated limitations in detecting subtle gait deficits associated with c/mTBI. Sample size constraints, potential learning effects, sensor placement variability, and human variability in task prioritization were identified as limitations. Future research should focus on expanding sample sizes, refining sensor technology, and exploring the interplay between cognitive tasks and motor performance to enhance sensitivity for detecting subtle gait deficits in c/mTBI populations.
Recommended Citation
Galvan, Michelle; Buazza, Maryam; Mendoza, Jacob; and Pearson, Jallycia, "Using Cognitive Dual-Task to Evaluate Individuals With Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries: A Pilot Study" (2024). DPT Capstones. 25.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dpt_cap/25