The Effect of Texting on Balance and Temporospatial Aspects of Gait

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine effects of texting on standing balance and the temporospatial aspects ofgait. It was hypothesized that texting would decrease stride velocity and increase deviation from midline while walking, as well asincrease centre of pressure (CoP) excursions while standing. Fifteen participants (eleven males and four females, 21.12±1.25 yearsof age) performed two standing balance tasks and two walking tasks. A repeated measures experimental design was used. Thestanding task consisted of standing as still as possible on a force plate for 20 seconds, which was then repeated while theparticipant texted a standard text message (48 characters). The second task consisted of walking along a six metre straight linewhile being filmed posteriorly along the line of progression, and perpendicular to direction of motion. This task was completed againwhile texting a similar predetermined message (48 characters). Balance performance was quantified by the percentage of total timewithin a 5 mm radius of each participant’s centre of pressure (CoP). Gait quality was quantified using the average step length, stridevelocity, and mediolateral standard deviation from midline averaged from both feet. The percentage of time spent within 5 mm of theaverage CoP was significantly (p<0.05) less while texting compared to the non-texting control condition. Additionally, themediolateral standard deviation from the midline while walking increased significantly (p<0.05) in the texting condition. Average steplength and average stride velocity decreased significantly (p<0.05) while texting compared to the control condition. Standing balanceand temporospatial aspects of walking are significantly degraded by texting. These results are valuable due to the growingprevalence of mobile technology. These results suggest that texting and walking could be detrimental to pedestrian safety and canhelp inform decisions regarding infrastructure to minimize potential dangers associated with distracted walkers.