Cognitive-motor interaction during wheelchair propulsion

Cognitive-motor interaction (CMI) research has exclusively investigated ambulatory adults, however, there is reason to believe that individuals who use manual wheelchairs may also be susceptible to this phenomenon. PURPOSE: This investigation seeks to determine: 1) the kinesthetic contributions mediating the attentional demands of wheelchair propulsion, 2) if wheelchair users experience CMI during wheelchair propulsion in a stable environment, and 3) if increased environmental complexity impacts the CMI of wheelchair propulsion. METHODS: Fourteen healthy individuals who use a manual wheelchair (age: 37.8±16.3; sex: 8 males, 6 females) completed a series of single- and dual-task trials. Serial-7 Subtraction was used throughout testing to determine changes in cognitive function. Changes in motor function were determined through the performance of four, 30-second motor tasks: Static Sitting, Short Leans, Maximal Leans, and Stationary Propulsion, and four distinct 35-foot pathways, or Environments, varying in complexity. All dual-tasking trials required the simultaneous completion of Serial-7 Subtraction and a motor task/Environment. Two single- and dual-task trials were completed for each task, and average single and dual-task performance was calculated. Differences in average single- and dual-task performance were determined through paired samples t-tests, and percent changes (i.e., dual-task costs [DTCs]) were calculated to quantify CMI. Within-subjects, repeated-measures ANOVAs were conducted to determine significant differences between the DTCs of each outcome variable across the four motor tasks and Environments, respectively. IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, version 28, was used to perform all statistical analyses on recorded data with statistical significance set at α=0.05. RESULTS: Single- to dual-task cognitive function was maintained during all motor tasks (DTC≤13%; p=0.12-0.74; d=0.09-0.44) at the expense of impaired motor function during three motor tasks (DTC≤43%; p<0.01-0.03; d=0.67-1.21). Motor function was uniquely maintained during Maximal Leans (DTC≤0.5%; p=0.12-0.93; d=0.02-0.45), which required more cognitive resources than the other tasks, as indicated by significantly lower dual-task cognitive function (p<0.001; ηp2=0.44). Likewise, cognitive function was maintained from the single- to dual-task trial in all Environments (p≥0.16; d≤0.40) and yielded similar DTCs across Environments (p=0.80; ηp2=0.03). Compromised motor function was observed in all Environments (p≤0.03; d≥0.67) and yielded similar DTCs across Environments (p≥0.37, ηp2≥0.04). CONCLUSION: Wheelchair propulsion is attentionally demanding for individuals who use manual wheelchairs. These demands likely stem from the task's seated balance requirements and are stable regardless of environmental complexity. When dual-tasking under these demands, participants most often experienced a decline in motor function to preserve cognitive function, demonstrating a posture-second approach.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Kinesiology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2022

Author dc:creator

• Frechette, Mikaela Lynn

Contributors dc:contributor

• Rice, Laura A
• Sosnoff, Jacob J
• Hernandez, Manuel Enrique
• Petruzzello, Steven J

• attentional demands
• dual-task
• cognitive-motor interaction
• wheelchair propulsion
• environmental complexity

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2022 Mikaela Frechette

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/116057

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F116057