DUAL TASK WALKING IMPROVEMENTS FOLLOWING AN INTERDISCIPLAINRY INTENSIVE EPSIODE OF CARE FOR 3 CHILDREN WITH ATAXIA

Dual tasking, the simultaneous performance of two activities, such as walking and talking, has the goal of simulating the demands of everyday life1. When compared to a single task condition, performance may worsen for one or both tasks in the dual task (DT) condition. Children with neuromotor impairments may degrade more in performance compared to typically developing peers2. Research surrounding DT performance in children with ataxia is limited, but in adults with ataxia, DT cost increases when cognitive tasks are added to a gait task1.
This case describes 3 children with ataxia who participated in a 4 week interdisciplinary intensive episode of care. Physical therapy (PT) sessions occurred 5x/week and both males received speech therapy (ST) 4x/week, as a co-treatment with PT, to further refine cognitive challenges specific to the child’s needs. Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Timed Floor to Stand-Natural (TFTS-N) were used in both single task and cognitive DT conditions. All 3 children made improvements on DT condition for both tests, exceeding the MCID established for the TUG 5. DT effect in TFTS-N also improved by 9%, 5.7%, and 72.2%.
For school-aged children, the ability to walk and transition from the floor quickly while conversing with a peer may have an impact on participation within their school environment. The results suggest shared decision-making with children and caregivers should include consideration of the role of DT performance in everyday environments. In addition, addressing DT goals may be best done within an interdisciplinary team that includes PT and ST.