Incorporation of a dual-task cognitive exercise during unsupported seated balance in collegiate para athletes.

INTRODUCTION

Balance remains a critical element in the evaluation and management of sports injury, with recent recommendations to integrate dual-task cognitive exercises into balancing to further challenge the body's vestibular and somatosensory systems. Dual-task balancing has yet to be examined in a sample of para-athletes. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a dual-task cognitive exercise on unsupported, seated balance in a sample of healthy, collegiate para-athletes. A secondary objective was to investigate the role of sex, concussion history, and functional classification.

METHODS

A total of 52 participants completed a seated balance battery, with their eyes open and closed, on a stable and unstable surface, under both single and dual-task conditions. Measures consisted of human-scored biomechanical errors of coming out of the seated positions.

RESULTS

Between 90 and 94% of participants committed 0 errors during stable and unstable single-task, along with stable dual-task, while only 86.5% had 0 errors for unstable, dual-task balancing. No sex differences were observed during single and dual-task balancing. Concussion history and functional classification did not affect performance.

DISCUSSION: The lack of differences between single and dual-task indicates that dual-task cognitive exercises or human-scored errors may not appropriately affect and assess upright seated balance and may require more dynamic tasks to further challenge balance and postural stability.