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Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Jul 1;15(1):21432.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-05952-8.

Influence of wearable rhythmic auditory stimulation on Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sofia Scataglini  1 , Cas Van Bocxlaer  2 , Lynn Jansen  2 , Laura Van Es  2 , Charlotte Van Laerhoven  2 , Steven Truijen  2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Influence of wearable rhythmic auditory stimulation on Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sofia Scataglini et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Movement therapy using Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) has been proven beneficial in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, research regarding RAS-therapy using wearable devices in all neurological disorders is needed. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of RAS-therapy using wearable devices on movement in individuals with neurological disorders. Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources June 27, 2024. PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, PEDro and ScienceDirect were searched. Following PRISMA-guidelines 2020. Inclusion criteria: all neurological disorders, Rhythmic auditory stimulation, wearable devices, movement parameters, studies written in Dutch or English. Exclusion criteria: non-neurological disorders, children, animals, healthy individuals, other interventions, EMG and EEG outcome parameters, patient reported outcome parameters, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and other languages besides Dutch or English. Risk of bias was assessed using the QualSyst tool. 7993 articles after double-blind screening; thirty studies were included in the review and fifteen in the meta-analysis. Results showed improvements in stride length, step length, gait velocity, double support time, arm swing peak velocity and arm swing ROM. The meta-analysis confirmed significant improvements in gait velocity and stride length within a longitudinal design as well as when compared to a control group. Improvement in cadence was only significant in a longitudinal design but non-significant when compared to a control group (p = 0.247). RAS-therapy can be implemented for rehabilitation of PD, MS and stroke.

Keywords: Gait; Movement; Neurological disorders; Parkinson’s disease; Rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS); Wearable devices.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Prisma 2020 flowchart study selection.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forest plot gait velocity pre vs post.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Forest plot gait velocity control vs experimental.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Forest plot stride length pre vs post.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Forest plot stride length control vs experimental.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Forest plot cadence pre vs post.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Forest plot cadence control vs experimental.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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