The Effects of Dual-Motor Task Training on the Gait Ability of Chronic Stroke Patients

[Purpose] This study examined the effects of consecutive training in dual motor tasks on the gait ability of chronic stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Conservative physical therapy was conducted for 29 subjects divided into two groups. The dual-motor task group was also taught a basic motor task and additional motor tasks, whereas the single-motor task training group was taught consecutive single motor tasks. Both groups performed their programs five times a week for 30 minutes over a period of four weeks. For performance measurements, time-based gait variables and space-based gait variables were measured using GAITRite. [Results] The dual-motor task group exhibited statistically significant improvement in the temporal variables of cadence, gait velocity, step time, and cycle time, as well as in the spatial gait variables of step length and stride length. The single-motor task group exhibited significant improvements in cadence, gait velocity. Moreover, according to the comparison of training effects between in the two groups, the temporal gait variables of gait velocity and cycle time and the spatial gait variable of stride length revealed a statistically significant difference. [Conclusions] Compared to the single-motor task training, the dual-motor task training of stroke patients was more effective at improving gait ability.