The Effect of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) on Physical Therapy Outcomes for Patients in Gait Training Following Stroke: A Feasibility Study

Journal

International Journal of Neuroscience

Year

2009

Abstract

Adults aged 55 to 80 years participated voluntarily in a wait-list control study during in-patient physical therapy following first stroke. All participants (N = 15) received conventional physical therapy gait training throughout 30 treatment sessions. Rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS)-enhanced gait training was nested within conventional treatments in three conditions: (1) RAS throughout 30 treatments (N = 5); (2) RAS in the last 20 treatments (N = 5); and (3) RAS in the last 10 treatments (N = 5). Cadence and balance outcome measurements were taken at baseline, and following 10, 20, and 30 treatment sessions. Improvements across time were statistically significant in all conditions for one-limb stance, cadence, velocity, stride length, and posture head tilt with no statistically significant improvements for the Timed Up and Go Test and the Functional Reach Test. Statistically significant gains were made in the one-limb stance and cadence with earlier implementations of RAS. Results of the study demonstrate the feasibility of RAS to enhance gait training that warrants further investigation of the protocol to demonstrate the effects of RAS in stroke rehabilitation.

Music and Health Institute Terms

Gait; Stroke; Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation; Recreative Music Methods; Mobility; Reha bilitation Exercises

Indexed Terms

Acoustic Stimulation; Gait; Physical Therapy Modalities; Stroke Rehabilitation; Elderly; Elderly; Arm; Biomechanical Phenomena; Feasibility Studies; Head; Motor Activity; Postural Balance; Posture; Stroke; Time Factors

Study Type

Quasi-Experimental Study; Quantitative Methods

Document Type

Article

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