The influence of cognitive load on balance control during steady-state walking

For an individual to successfully walk, they must maintain control of their dynamic balance. However, situations that require increased cognitive attention may impair individual’s ability actively While dual-task studies have analyzed walking-while-talking conditions, few focused specifically on the influence load balance control. The purpose this study was assess how individuals prioritize resources and during conditions varying difficulty. Young healthy adults (n = 15) performed two single-task (spelling-while-standing treadmill walking with no load) three (treadmill increasing load: attentive listening spelling short long words backwards). Cognitive performance did not change between single- as measured by percent error response rate (p 0.300). Balance control, assessed using range whole-body angular momentum, but decreased < 0.001). These results highlight in young decreases loads, does change. decrease suggests participants prioritized over these conditions. This work offers additional insight into automaticity task-prioritization provides basis for future determine differences neurologically impaired populations.