2Karabuk University, Department of Audiology, Karabük, Turkey DOI : 10.29400/tjgeri.2023.353 Aim: There is limited information on dual-task performance in older individuals with chronic neck pain. This study aims to investigate cognitive and motor performances during dual tasks in older adults with chronic neck pain.
Methods: Thirty-five older adults with chronic neck pain and 35 older adults without neck pain were included in the study. The timed up and go test evaluated individuals" single-task performance. To assess the dual-task performances of the groups, the individuals were given motor and cognitive (forward and backward digit span) tasks simultaneously with the timed up and go test. During cognitive dual-task, the cognitive performances of individuals were evaluated and the duration of their timed up and go test was recorded.
Results: There was no difference between the groups in terms of singletask timed up and go test (p >0.05). There was also no difference between the groups in terms of cognitive-forward and cognitive-backward (p >0.05). However, cognitive performance of the chronic neck pain group during dualtask was worse than that of the control group (p <0.05). Additionally, the motor dual-task of older adults in the chronic neck pain group was worse than the control group (p <0.05).
Conclusion: Older adults with chronic neck pain struggle more in motor dualtask situations than asymptomatic older adults. Therefore, gait assessment with a motor dual task should be performed for older adults with chronic neck pain. In addition, during cognitive dual-task conditions, the cognitive performance of older adults should be evaluated in addition to their gait performance.
Keywords : Aged; Gait; Neck Pain; Postural Balance; Task Performance and Analysis