Dual tasking, doing two things at once

Dual tasking

Dual tasking means doing two things at the same time, such as walking while talking, or carrying a cup while moving. In daily life, we rarely do just one thing at a time.

This matters because after a stroke or in older age, splitting attention can make walking unsteady. Many falls happen the moment a person is distracted mid step.

Our physiotherapist practises safe dual tasking once basic walking is steady, such as walking while counting or holding an item. This trains the person to stay safe during the real, busy moments of everyday life. We add difficulty only when the base is solid.