Dual-task training with progression from variable- to fixed-priority instructions versus dual-task training with variable-priority on gait speed in community-dwelling older adults: A protocol for a randomized controlled trial : Variable- and fixed-priority dual-task for older adults

• Published in: BMC geriatrics Vol. 20; no. 1; p. 76
• Main Authors: Trombini-Souza, Francis, de Maio Nascimento, Marcelo, da Silva, Tarcísio Fulgêncio Alves, de Araújo, Rodrigo Cappato, Perracini, Mônica Rodrigues, Sacco, Isabel C N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central 22-02-2020
• Subjects: Accidental Falls - prevention & control; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Exercise Therapy; Female; Gait; Humans; Independent Living; Male; Postural Balance; Quality of Life; Study Protocol; Walking; Walking Speed; Falls; Balance training; Functional activities; Older adults; Dual task
• ISSN: 1471-2318; 1471-2318
• DOI: 10.1186/s12877-020-1479-2

Functional independence and safe mobility, especially in older people, mostly rely on the ability to perform dual tasks, particularly during activities with variable- and fixed-priority attention. The aim of this study is to compare the dual-task training with progression from variable- to fixed-priority instructions versus dual-task training with variable-priority on gait speed in community-dwelling older adults.
This is an assessor- and participant-blinded, two-arm, randomized controlled trial with 60 community-dwelling male and female older adults between the ages of 60 and 80 years old. Participants will be randomly allocated into either the intervention group or the control group using a computer-generated permuted block randomization schedule. The intervention group will undertake a progressive dual-task training in which the participants will be progressively submitted to dual-task walking and postural balance exercises with variable- to fixed-priority instructions. The control group will be submitted to dual-task training with variable-priority attention exercises. Both groups will receive 48 sessions lasting for 60 min each over 24 weeks. The primary outcome will be the gait speed under single- and dual-task conditions. Secondary outcomes will include spatiotemporal gait parameters, functional balance, executive function, falls, quality of life, and depression symptoms. All the analyses will be based on the intention-to-treat principle.
This is the first assessor- and participant-blinded, two-arm, randomized controlled trial with 6 months of intervention and an additional 6-month post-training follow up aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of training with progression from variable- to fixed-priority instructions on gait biomechanics, postural balance, falls episodes, executive functioning, and quality of life in community-dwelling older adults. If our hypotheses are confirmed, this training protocol can be implemented widely to improve gait speed and other functional activities and quality of life in community-dwelling older adults. This study protocol can be used to improve these functional aspects of community-dwelling older adults. This study may also contribute to future guidelines for the improvement of these clinical and biomechanical aspects in older people.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier - NCT03886805, Registered 22 March 2019.