Abstract
[Purpose] The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between minimum toe clearance (MTC) and sagittal joint angles during walking under single- (ST) and dual-task (DT) conditions. [Subjects and Methods] There were 15 older (68.8 ± 4.9 years) and 15 younger (23.2 ± 2.9 years) participants. Gait kinematics (non-dominant side MTC and sagittal angles) were evaluated under the two conditions: walking normally (ST), and walking while performing a calculation (DT). [Results] In the younger group, MTC correlated with knee flexion angles under the ST and DT conditions, while MTC correlated negatively with pelvic anteversion in the older group, especially under the DT condition. [Conclusion] These results suggest that cognitive tasks that tilt the pelvis forward may decrease the MTC, and may lead to falls during walking.
