Abstract Adaptability is a prerequisite for flexible and independent behavior and a sine qua non for succesful recovery after damage to the motor system. It is shown that in the early stages of a rehabilitation process, standing balance in leg amputees is seriously hindered by the simultanous performance of a non-motor cognitive task (Stroop task), an effect which was totally absent in normal controls and which disappeared in time. The results indicated a substantial involvement of cognitive processes during a learning or adaptation process. The question whether the capacity to adapt is age dependent is adressed in this chapter. Normal young adults and elderly subjects had to walk on a walkway. There were four gait conditions, i. simple unobstructed gait (single task), ii. walking while solving a mental calculation task (dual task), iii. walking while wearing flippers and iiii. flipper walking while performing the mental calculation task. The results showed that young adults were only minimally hindered by the dual task conditions. The elderly, however, were severely impaired by the dual task conditions and showed significant gait impairment in the dual task + flipper condition. The implications of these results for assessment will be discussed.
Sensorimotor Adaptability in the Elderly and Disabled
1993-01-01
14 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
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