Volume 30, Issue 167, January 2026

Effectiveness of Cognitive Dual Task Gait Training versus Conventional Gait Training on Gait Parameters in Chronic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Shruti Verma¹, Pushpa Dhote²

¹Post Graduate, Department of Neurophysiotherapy, V.S.P.M’s College of Physiotherapy, Digdoh Hills, Hingna Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
²Professor, Department of Neurophysiotherapy, V.S.P.M’s College of Physiotherapy, Digdoh Hills, Hingna Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India

ABSTRACT

Stroke survivors typically experience motor and cognitive impairments, both of which independently and significantly influence gait performance. Walking-related cognitive-motor interference can constrain community ambulation and functional independence. This study aimed to compare the impact of two types of gait training — Cognitive Dual Task Gait Training (CDTGT) and Conventional Gait Training (CGT) — on the gait of patients who had suffered a chronic stroke. Sixty-four chronic stroke patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups (CDTGT, n = 32, or CGT, n = 32) in a randomized controlled trial. For four weeks, both groups received training six days a week. The study assessed the following gait parameters: step length, stride length, cadence, and gait speed using the 10-Meter Walk Test and the footprint method before and after the intervention. CDTGT included cognitive and gait task training in addition to gait training (CGT). All groups showed significantly higher gait parameters following the intervention (p < 0.001). The between-group analysis indicated that CDTGT resulted in better performance than CGT. As a result, the CDTGT group had significantly larger improvements in gait speed (p = 0.001) and cadence (p = 0.041). The CDTGT group also had favorable trends for step length and stride length, but the results did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, cognitive dual-task gait training helps chronic stroke patients more in terms of cadence and gait speed than traditional gait training. Incorporating cognitive tasks in addition to gait rehabilitation should be taken into account in routine physiotherapy protocols for stroke survivors, as this can improve functional mobility.

Keywords: Chronic Stroke, Dual task training, gait training, physical therapy, Functional mobility

Medical Science, 2026, 30, e8ms3676

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v30i167.e8ms3676

Published: 21 January 2026