Differences in dual task paradigms and executive function ability for recreational athletes in United Arab Emirates.
Deema Bitar, Lori Maria Walton, Bassima Schbley and 2 others
PMID 33281283WHAT IT FOUND
Recreational athletes showed no significant difference in executive function or dual-task walking speed based on sport type or activity level.
Walking while counting backwards slowed gait speed for most participants, regardless of whether they played self-paced or team sports.
Key findings
01There were no significant differences in executive function or dual-task interference between athletes in self-paced versus externally-paced sports.
02Dual-task walking resulted in worsened performance, with only 8.9% of the sample showing a positive outcome when calculating dual-task interference.
03Sport-related physical activity levels (low, moderate, or vigorous) did not produce significant differences in cognitive test scores or dual-task performance.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study used a cross-sectional design, so it cannot determine if sport participation causes these cognitive profiles or if people with certain cognitive abilities choose specific sports. Sample sizes were unequal across activity levels, with most participants in the vigorous category, which may skew comparisons. The study excluded participants with various medical conditions, limiting applicability to patients with comorbidities. The authors noted a potential confounding factor where cultural expectations for sedentary behavior in females may have influenced gender differences in walking speed.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest and received no financial support for the research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the lack of significant differences as evidence that sport type has no effect on cognition. The study was underpowered and cross-sectional, meaning it could not detect small effects or establish causation. The null result applies specifically to recreational athletes in this demographic and should not be generalized to elite athletes or clinical populations.