Background

Treadmill desks have been used extensively to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary time in the work environment. However, dual tasking, such as simultaneously walking and performing a cognitive task, may result in diminished performance in one or both tasks.

Research question

Do age and sex impact ability to dual task while using a treadmill desk at a preferred walking speed?.

Methods

A total of n = 24 younger (range of 18–24 years, mean age = 21.1 ± 1.6 years) and n = 25 older (range of 45–65 years, mean age = 53.0 ± 5.1 years) adults self-selected a comfortable walking speed ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 mph and performed the Stroop Color & Word test (measuring Inhibition) and the Sternberg Test of Working Memory (measuring Working Memory) while walking at their chosen speed on a treadmill desk and while seated. Testing was performed in two separate sessions with the order counterbalanced. Step length, stride length, gait cycle time, and coefficient of variation (CV) for each were measured using OptoGait software, and both reaction time and accuracy for the two cognitive tests were assessed. Dual Task Cost (DTC) was calculated by using the formula (Single task score – Dual task score)/Single task score)*100.

Results

Younger adults had faster reaction time compared to older adults for both Working Memory and Inhibition tests (p < 0.05), and both males and females had slower reaction time for the Working Memory test when seated compared to walking (p < 0.05). For DTC, older adults had greater stride length CV during the Working Memory task (32.0 % vs 19.6 %), and regardless of age or sex, DTC for gait was greater than for cognition.

Significance

These data provide evidence that while aging does decrease reaction time while dual tasking, few age differences and no sex differences were found in dual task cost. However, dual tasking results in diminished gait DTC compared to cognition DTC regardless of age or sex.

中文翻译：

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年龄和性别在执行认知测试时使用跑步机进行双重任务的作用

背景

跑步机办公桌已被广泛用于增加身体活动并减少工作环境中的久坐时间。然而，双重任务，例如同时行走和执行认知任务，可能会导致在一项或两项任务中的表现下降。

研究问题

在以首选步行速度使用跑步机办公桌时，年龄和性别是否会影响双重任务的能力？

方法

共有 n = 24 年轻（范围 18-24 岁，平均年龄 = 21.1 ± 1.6 岁）和 n = 25 年长（范围 45-65 岁，平均年龄 = 53.0 ± 5.1 岁）的成年人自行选择了舒适的步行速度范围为 0.5 到 2.0 英里/小时，并在以他们选择的速度在跑步机办公桌上行走和坐着时进行 Stroop 颜色和单词测试（测量抑制）和工作记忆的 Sternberg 测试（测量工作记忆）。测试在两个单独的会话中进行，订单被抵消。使用 OptoGait 软件测量每个人的步长、步幅、步态周期时间和变异系数 (CV)，并评估两个认知测试的反应时间和准确性。双任务成本（DTC）的计算公式为（单任务分数-双任务分数）/单任务分数）*100。

结果

与老年人相比，年轻人在工作记忆和抑制测试中的反应时间更快（p < 0.05），与走路相比，男性和女性坐着时的工作记忆测试反应时间更慢（p < 0.05）。对于 DTC，老年人在工作记忆任务期间具有更大的步幅 CV（32.0% 对 19.6%），并且无论年龄或性别，步态的 DTC 大于认知的 DTC。

意义

这些数据提供的证据表明，虽然衰老确实会减少双重任务时的反应时间，但在双重任务成本中几乎没有发现年龄差异和性别差异。然而，与认知 DTC 相比，无论年龄或性别如何，双重任务都会导致步态 DTC 减少。