The effect of rhythmic auditory stimulation on the gait of Parkinson's disease patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of rhythmic auditory stimulation on the gait of patients with Parkinson's disease.Methods Forty-two patients with Parkinson's disease were divided into an auditory stimulation group and a control group with 21 cases in each.Both groups received conventional drug treatment,but the auditory stimulation group also received rhythmic auditory stimulation training for 10 minutes,3 times daily for 3 weeks.This involved their attempting to walk in time with a beat.The 2 groups were assessed with gait tests using a 3-dimensional motion analysis system before training and after the 3 weeks of training.Assessments using the united Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS),Berg's balance scale and the 6-minute walk test were carried out.Results The auditory stimulation group's average stride length and stride frequency improved significantly after 3 weeks of treatment,and were then significantly better than the control group averages.Conclusion Rhythmic auditory stimulation helps improve the gait of Parkinson's disease sufferers and promotes the recovery of motor function. Key words: Rhythmic auditory stimulation; Parkinson's disease