ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of rhythmic auditory stimulation on the gait of patients with Parkinson's disease.Methods Forty-two patients with Parkinson's disease were divided into an auditory stimulation group and a control group with 21 cases in each.Both groups received conventional drug treatment,but the auditory stimulation group also received rhythmic auditory stimulation training for 10 minutes,3 times daily for 3 weeks.This involved their attempting to walk in time with a beat.The 2 groups were assessed with gait tests using a 3-dimensional motion analysis system before training and after the 3 weeks of training.Assessments using the united Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS),Berg's balance scale and the 6-minute walk test were carried out.Results The auditory stimulation group's average stride length and stride frequency improved significantly after 3 weeks of treatment,and were then significantly better than the control group averages.Conclusion Rhythmic auditory stimulation helps improve the gait of Parkinson's disease sufferers and promotes the recovery of motor function.