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. 2010 Jul 13:2010:483530.
doi: 10.4061/2010/483530.

Walking with music is a safe and viable tool for gait training in Parkinson's disease: the effect of a 13-week feasibility study on single and dual task walking

Natalie de Bruin  1 , Jon B Doan, George Turnbull, Oksana Suchowersky, Stephan Bonfield, Bin Hu, Lesley A Brown
Affiliations

Walking with music is a safe and viable tool for gait training in Parkinson's disease: the effect of a 13-week feasibility study on single and dual task walking

Natalie de Bruin et al. Parkinsons Dis. .

Abstract

This study explored the viability and efficacy of integrating cadence-matched, salient music into a walking intervention for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Twenty-two people with PD were randomised to a control (CTRL, n = 11) or experimental (MUSIC, n = 11) group. MUSIC subjects walked with an individualised music playlist three times a week for the intervention period. Playlists were designed to meet subject's musical preferences. In addition, the tempo of the music closely matched (±10-15 bpm) the subject's preferred cadence. CTRL subjects continued with their regular activities during the intervention. The effects of training accompanied by "walking songs" were evaluated using objective measures of gait score. The MUSIC group improved gait velocity, stride time, cadence, and motor symptom severity following the intervention. This is the first study to demonstrate that music listening can be safely implemented amongst PD patients during home exercise.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Experimental design. † Trials randomised. *Not included in current analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Study flow chart.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effect of intervention on gait parameters in single and dual task conditions. Effect of intervention on (a) velocity, (b) stride time, (c) stride length, and (d) cadence during single task and dual task conditions, pre- and post-intervention amongst CTRL and MUSIC groups (means and standard errors). *Significant effect of Time. † Significant effect of Task.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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