Effects of mobile phone task engagement on gait and dynamic stability during stair ascent and descent

Mobile devices, including smartphones, have become closely integrated into our daily lives. However, using a phone while walking may lead to falls due to cognitive distraction. In comparison to walking on level ground, stair ambulation represents one of the most challenging and hazardous forms of movement. It is imperative to explore the impact of mobile phone task engagement on walking patterns and stability during stair ascent and descent. Methods: Recruited 16 young participants for our study, where they were required to perform single tasks (ascending and descending stairs) and dual tasks (using a smartphone while ascending and descending stairs). During these activities, we collected data on gait parameters and the range of motion (RoM) of the center of mass (CoM) in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions. Paired-sample t-tests were employed for data analysis. Results: Mobile task engagement resulted in a decrease in walking speed (p < 0.001), a decrease in gait cycle (p < 0.001), and an increase in task completion time (p < 0.001). During stair ascent, there was a reduction in double support ratio (p = 0.010) and an increase in single support ratio (p < 0.001). The stability of the center of mass (CoM) in the anterior-posterior direction increased during task execution (p < 0.001), while the stability in the medial-lateral direction decreased (ascending stairs p = 0.041; descending stairs p = 0.024). Conclusion: These findings indicate that engaging in mobile tasks affects the gait parameters during stair ascent and descent. However, the impact on dynamic stability is not entirely negative; instead, it has a positive effect on the dynamic stability of the CoM in the anterior-posterior direction. This suggests that healthy young participants may adopt a more stable gait pattern while performing dual tasks.