Effects of Backpack Carriage on Dual-Task Performance in Children During Standing and Walking |
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| Authors: | Rainer Beurskens Thomas Muehlbauer Lena Grabow Reinhold Kliegl Urs Granacher |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Sports and Health Sciences, Division of Training and Movement Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany;2. Geriatric Center at the University of Heidelberg, Agaplesion Bethanien Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germanyrainer.beurskens@posteo.de;4. Department of Psychology, Division of Cognitive Psychology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany |
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| 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. |
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| Keywords: | attentional demand cognitive performance gait analysis load carriage postural control |
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