Smartphone use during walking raises safety concerns, particularly with obstacle negotiation, due to cognitive-motor interference (CMI). We examined the effects of smartphone use and obstacle negotiation on gait parameters, symmetry, and visual recognition in fifteen healthy adults. Participants performed three randomized conditions: walking with a smartphone and obstacles, obstacles only, and normal walking. Gait parameters were recorded using the G-Walk sensor system. Results indicated that walking speed, cadence, and step length were significantly lower in the smartphone+obstacle condition compared to other conditions. Symmetry indices were significantly reduced in the coronal and transverse planes during the dual-task, while visual stimulus recognition also declined markedly. These findings confirm that combining smartphone use with obstacle negotiation impairs gait performance and awareness, supporting the CMI framework. The results highlight that smartphone use poses safety risks beyond inconvenience. Consequently, preventive strategies and rehabilitation programs should incorporate dual-task conditions to reduce the risk of falls.
Kim et al. (2026) studied this question.