Riassunto dello studio

Twenty-four transfemoral amputees were included in this study comparing single task training (gait and balance exercises; n=12) and dual task training (cognitive and motor tasks during gait and balance exercises; n=12). Outcomes of interest included the 1-leg stance test and four square step test for balance, timed up and go (TUG) test, and 10 meter walk test for gait assessment, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) for cognitive assessment, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for sleep quality assessment. Testing was performed during standard single-task conditions, as well as during a cognitive task (serial subtraction) and motor task (tray carrying). Outcomes were assessed after the completion of the 4 week intervention protocol. Results demonstrated that no statistical significant differences were observed in the change from baseline between the two groups in the single-task results for four square step test, TUG test, and the 10 meter walk test, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores. However, statistically significantly greater improvements were observed in the dual task training group compared to the single task training group for one leg stance test during cognitive tasks (p=0.028), four square step tests and 10 meter walking tests during cognitive and motor tasks (p<0.05 for all), and TUG test during cognitive tasks (p=0.014). Furthermore, an improvement in MoCA scores were statistically significantly in favour of the dual task training group (p=0.006).