The Use of Footstep Sounds as Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation for Gait Rehabilitation in Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The use of rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) has been proven useful in the management of gait disturbances associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). Typically, the RAS consists of metronome or music-based sounds (artificial RAS), while ecological footstep sounds (ecological RAS) have never been used for rehabilitation programs.

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a rehabilitation program integrated either with ecological or with artificial RAS.

Methods

An observer-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate the effects of 5 weeks of supervised rehabilitation integrated with RAS. Thirty-eight individuals affected by PD were randomly assigned to one of the two conditions (ecological vs. artificial RAS); thirty-t

SUBMITTER: Murgia M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5992388 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature