In our fast-paced society, it is almost inherent that at some point in our day we are going to have to multi-task or dual task: when an individual is required to perform two tasks simultaneously.
You already do this!
- putting groceries away requires dynamic balance as you turn, pivot, carry, lift, and maybe squat while you are also being mindful of what objects go in the fridge vs cupboard
- Playing hopscotch requires you to alternate hopping patterns while counting to a pre-determined number of steps based on what you rolled
- Going for a walk with a friend where you are carrying on a conversation and being mindful of your surroundings while you navigate uneven sidewalks and attend to oncoming traffic
However, in rehab, it often couples a motor task with a cognitive task. The design intentionally splits attention and makes movements more automatic.
Motor task: tasks that require voluntary control over movements of the joints and body segments to achieve a goal
Examples:
- Climbing the stairs or hiking in the woods
- balancing on a ladder or reaching for an object on the top shelf of your closet
- lifting weights or boxes from the ground to a counter
- Running, cycling, jumping, surfing
Cognitive task: those undertakings that require a person to mentally process new information (i.e., acquire and organize knowledge/learn) and allow them to recall, retrieve that information from memory and to use that information at a later time in the same or similar situation (i.e., transfer).
Examples:
- counting backwards from 100 by 3
- identifying or distinguishing colors on a paint swatch
- listing all the players on the Boston Celtics roster
- Saying aloud as many different animals or fruits as you can
Examples of putting it all together:
- Balancing on 1 leg as you count backwards from 100 by 3
- this will help improve your control and confidence when standing on one limb, which is what 40% of walking is
- Walking in your hall as a friend/partner verbally tells you what direction to travel in “forward, stop, backwards, turn right”
- this could help prepare you for snow on the sidewalks
- Maintaining tandem stance as if you were on a tightrope as you write out your list of errands for the day
In summary: Despite how efficient and productive society suggests we should be, human processing resources are limited, so be aware of how much you are asking of your brain. But also recognize if your daily tasks require this type of multi-tasking – for chores, hobbies, or sports – it is probably better to practice juggling them both to improve performance. Here at Joint Ventures, we want to assist you to live your best life, for you! We can give you the tools to perform both motor and cognitive tasks while in rehab, so you can perform dual tasks even better at home.
– Erin Ward, PT, DPT, OCS
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