Immediate effects of rhythmic auditory stimulation on gait kinematics in Parkinson's disease ON/OFF medication

OBJECTIVE:\r\nGait impairment is a highly disabling symptom for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS), has shown to improve spatio-temporal gait parameters in PD, but only a few studies have focused on their effects on gait kinematics, and the ideal stimulation frequency has still not been identified.\r\nMETHODS:\r\nWe enrolled 30 PD patients and 18 controls. Patients were evaluated under two conditions (with (ON), and without (OFF) medications) with three different RAS frequencies (90%, 100%, and 110% of the patient's preferred walking cadence). Spatial-temporal parameters, joint angles and gait phases distribution were evaluated. A novel global index (GPQI) was used to quantify the difference in gait phase distribution.\r\nRESULTS:\r\nAlong with benefits in spatial-temporal parameters, GPQI improved significantly with RAS at a frequency of 110% for both ON and OFF medication conditions. In the most severe patients, the same result was observed also with RAS at 100%.\r\nCONCLUSIONS:\r\nRAS administration, at a frequency of 110% of the preferred walking frequency, can be beneficial in improving the gait pattern in PD patients.\r\nSIGNIFICANCE:\r\nWhen rhythmic auditory stimulation is provided to patients with PD, the selection of an adequate frequency of stimulation can optimize their effects on gait pattern.