Cognitive Costs and Gait Parameters During Single- and Dual-Task Conditions: A Comparative Study in Individuals With and Without Non-Specific Neck Pain
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Background
The high incidence of non-specific neck pain (NSNP) among students, commonly associated with prolonged sedentary behavior and extensive use of electronic devices, highlights the need to assess its impact on cognitive and motor functions. This study aims to evaluate the effects of NSNP on dual-task performance by analyzing gait parameters and cognitive performance during both single-task and dual-task conditions.
Methods
Forty-five participants with NSNP and forty-five age-matched controls were assessed using an optical motion-capture system. Participants underwent gait assessments during both single-task (without cognitive load) and dual-task conditions, in which the cognitive tasks involved simple mathematical computations.
Results
Results revealed that, under single-task conditions, differences in gait parameters between groups were not statistically significant. However, under dual-task conditions, participants with NSNP exhibited significant impairments in gait parameters and higher cognitive costs (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that pain intensity was significantly associated with cognitive cost and gait parameter alterations during dual-task conditions (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
These findings suggest that NSNP significantly elevates the cognitive effort required during dual tasking. These finding emphasizes on the need for interventions to alleviate neck pain and improve both physical and cognitive health.
