Effects of Backpack Carriage on Dual-Task Performance in Children During Standing and Walking. Issue 6 (1st November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Beurskens, Rainer; Muehlbauer, Thomas; Grabow, Lena; Kliegl, Reinhold; Granacher, Urs
• Is Part Of: Journal of motor behavior. Volume 48:Issue 6(2016)
• Page Start: 500
• Page End: 508
• Publication Date: 2016-11-01
• Subjects: attentional demand -- cognitive performance -- gait analysis -- load carriage -- postural control; Human mechanics -- Periodicals; Movement, Psychology of -- Periodicals; Motor Activity -- Periodicals; Motor Skills -- Periodicals; Bewegingsleer; Mécanique humaine -- Périodiques; Psychomotricité -- Périodiques; 612.705
• DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2016.1152137
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2895

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Primary school children perform parts of their everyday activities while carrying school supplies and being involved in attention-demanding situations. Twenty-eight children (8–10 years old) performed a 1-legged stance and a 10 m walking test under single- and dual-task situations in unloaded (i.e., no backpack) and loaded conditions (i.e., backpack with 20% of body mass). Results showed that load carriage did not significantly influence children's standing and walking performance (all p > .05), while divided attention affected all proxies of walking (all p < .001). Last, no significant load by attention interactions was detected. The single application of attentional but not load demand negatively affects children's walking performance. A combined application of both did not further deteriorate their gait behavior.