Relationship Between Cognition and Gait at 2- and 12-Months Post-Traumatic Brain Injury.
Veronica Vuong, Kara K Patterson, Lauren Patricia Cole and 4 others
PMID 36188837WHAT IT FOUND
Slower performance on a cognitive sorting test at 2 months predicted slower maximum walking speed and less stable step timing at 12 months.
However, the statistical models explained very little of the variation, so early cognitive scores cannot reliably predict an individual patient's long-term walking recovery.
Key findings
01For every 30 seconds slower to complete the Trail Making Test-B at 2 months, maximum walking speed at 12 months was 9.9613 cm/s slower.
02Adjusted R-squared values were low, indicating the cognitive predictors explained only a small fraction of the variance in gait outcomes.
03Significant correlations between executive function and gait variability largely disappeared by 12 months, though associations with self-paced walking speed persisted.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The statistical models had low adjusted R-squared values, meaning they explained very little of the variation in gait outcomes and have poor predictive precision. The study was observational and did not test whether integrated cognitive-motor rehabilitation improves outcomes. Participants were recruited from a single urban Canadian hospital, which may limit generalizability to other populations or settings. The sample size (93) and the number of statistical tests performed increase the risk of false-positive findings, although Holm correction was applied.
Declared interests
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not use early cognitive test scores to predict an individual patient's long-term walking speed or stability. The regression models explained only a small amount of the variance (low adjusted R-squared), so these statistical associations are not strong enough to guide clinical prognosis for specific patients.