A goal leading to improving motion analysis and therapy

Walking is a fundamental human locomotor activity. During walking, individuals commonly engage in additional tasks such as conversing, using a smartphone, window-shopping, or planning a route. In these moments, the human nervous system not only governs walking but also manages these concurrent activities, demanding more of its resources compared to situations where walking is the sole focus. Consequently, under conditions involving an additional task, it becomes possible to identify disorders that might not be evident in a traditional gait examination. 

The methodology of dual-task gait analysis enables the examination of everyday walking patterns in clinical settings. This approach facilitates the observation of changes in gait patterns resulting from aging, medical conditions, or injuries, and it aids in assessing the effectiveness of interventions designed to enhance locomotion. 

The evaluation of gait with an additional task is increasingly utilized in physiotherapy and can be valuable in assessing fall risk, the potential for return to sports after an injury, or the effectiveness of gait re-education.  The objective of this lesson is to introduce best practices for the proper execution of gait testing with an additional task, drawing from a comprehensive review of the literature and our own expertise.