The Effect of a Novel Dual-Task Exercise Program for Balance, Mobility and Cognition in Community Dwelling Older Adults

Goal: The development of a Treadmill Rehabilitation Platform (TRP) for task-orientated rehabilitation that provides an adapted, blended approach among older adults with balance, mobility, and cognitive impairments. Study Objective: Examine the feasibility and benefits of a novel dual-task intervention to address mobility and cognitive decline with age using engaging interactive video games during treadmill walking and recumbent cycling.This will include evaluation of the effects of two interventions, one using treadmill walking and the second a recumbent cycle ergometer on 1. Core balance 2. Cardiac fitness, exercise endurance 3. Gaze control 4. Gait performance measure (walking stability and spatial-temporal gait parameters) 5. Specific executive cognitive function (processing speed, cognitive inhibition, working memory) 6. Dual task function during treadmill walking Hypothesis: 1. Dual-task exercise program will improve core balance and walking function to a greater extent in the Treadmill walking group compared to recumbent cycle group. 2. Executive function will improve equally in both the treadmill walking and recumbent cycle group. 3. Dual task exercise programs will have significant effect on gaze stability and cardiac fitness equally for both the treadmill and recumbent cycling groups.