The Effects of Tempo-Controlled Music Prompts during Task Switching and Multitasking Exercises in Older Adults

Background/Purpose: Falls are a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and loss of independence in older adults. Many falls occur while walking and simultaneously performing a physical or cognitive task. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a multitasking exercise program with or without music-based tempo cues could improve gait speed and balance and reduce fall risk indicators in older adults. Methods: Sixteen adults aged 50 and older participated in this study. Each participant completed an initial 30-minute assessment evaluating gait speed and balance. Participants were randomly assigned to a group, one utilized music to drive the tempo of the exercise, and another did not utilize music. The intervention consisted of a circuit-based exercise program incorporating simultaneous cognitive and physical tasks. Participants attended two 30-40-minute sessions per week for six weeks. Following the 6-week intervention, all participants completed the same gait and balance assessments. Results: A two-way analysis of variance showed no significant differences between music and no-music groups in any of the gait speed or balance protocols. Age was used as a covariate, which showed a decrease in speed as age increased. Conclusions: Although no significant differences were found between groups, the age-related decline in gait speed suggests that age plays an important role in gait performance and fall risk. These findings highlight the need for future research to examine age-specific responses to multitasking exercise interventions.