The Effect of Dual Task-Exercise to Walking Ability in Chronic Stroke Patients

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of dual-task-based ball exercise program to improve walking ability for executing a dual task.Methods: Experimental research, pretest – posttest design. Sixteen subjects, 1 woman and fifteen men, meanage 61 years old that come in Rehabilitation outpatient clinic BLU. RSUP. Prof. dr.R. D. Kandou Manado. Subjects were intervened with dual task-exercise using one or two balls while walking for about 10 m in length within 30 minutes. The frequency of exercise was three times a weekfor about four weeks. Subjects were assessed throught their walking velocity changes in single task and dual task exercises. The evaluation scores were noted on the questionnaire of walking ability.Results: The walking ability value in single task condition has significant change with p<0.001, and the walking ability in dual task condition has significant change also with p<0.001. These indicatethat subjects’ walking ability after intervention is faster than walking ability before the intervention. Walking ability based on walking ability questionnaire has significant change with p<0.001, showswalking ability after intervention has significant change.Conclusions: Dual task-exercise can improve walking ability of stroke chronic patient in singla task condition and dual task condition.Keywords: Chronic stroke, Dual task-exercise.