Abstract
This study examined the effect of a dual task on stepping reaction for older female. Nine healthy young female (mean age 19.0±0.9 years) and eleven healthy older female (mean age 69.0±3.1 years) participated. Time taken to stepping reaction under 2 conditions (stepping and stepping while grasping a full cup of water: a motor task) was measured. Results revealed that step velocity were slower in all subjects when they performed concurrently with a stepping reaction and step velocity in older female were slower than in young female on both tasks. An interesting finding was that the duration of swing phase as a percentage of a total stepping reaction time in older female was significantly smaller than in young female when the motor task was added to the test. In conclusion, performing a motor task while stepping reaction adversely affected the step velocity and the duration of swing phase as a percentage of a total stepping reaction time in older female, suggesting that this may be a factor contributing to poor postural balance and executive function which attentional demands might have the relationship with.
