The Effect of Cognitive and Motor Dual-Task Training on Improvement of Balance and Some Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in People With Idiopathic Parkinson'S Disease

Background: parkinson disease (pd) is characterized by motor and nonmotor symptoms that affect patients ' functions, especially while performing dualtasks a critical factor in everyday living. however, many controversies exist about the benefits of dualtask training in patients with pd.objectives: this study assessed the efficacy of motor and cognitive dualtask training in improving balance and gait parameters in people with idiopathic pd.materials methods: a singleblind controlled trial was conducted on pd patients living in guilan province of iran, in 2018-2019. a total of 30 pd patients (hoehn and yahr stage iiiii while on medication) were assigned to the cognitive dualtask training group (n=10), motor dualtask training group (n=10), and singletask control group (n=10). all groups received 30 sessions of different exercises for 10 consecutive weeks. the patients ' balance and some spatiotemporal gait parameters were respectively assessed with timed up and go test and hd video-camkinovea before and after training and then 1 month later. results: both dualtask and singletask trainings improved the outcome measures (timed up and go test (f=535.54; p=0.000), stride length (f=87.41; p=0.00), stride time (f=102.11; p=0.00), cadence (f=286.36; p=0.00), swing time (f=48.90; p=0.00), and stance time (f=40.56; p=0.00)). these improvements were maintained at 1month followup, although the effect slightly reduced. no significant differences were found between the study groups (p>0.05). conclusion: motor/cognitive dualtask training and singletask training were found to be significantly and equally effective in improving balance and gait parameters in people with pd.