The Efficacy of Repetitive Bilateral Arm Training with Rhythmic Auditory Cueing for Patients with Stroke

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of repetitive bilateral arm training with rhythmic auditory cueing (BATRAC) on functional motor performances of the hemiplegic upper limb. METHOD: Twenty four subjects with stroke (12 males, 12 females) were enrolled and classified into two groups, experimental and control group. The control group received conventional rehabilitation therapy while the experimental group received additional BATRAC. The motor function of patient's upper extremity was assessed by Fugl-Meyer Motor Function Assessment (FMA), Manual Function Test (MFT), and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) before the treatment, at 4 weeks and at 6 weeks after begining of the treatment. RESULTS: There were no differences in FMA between two groups before the treatment and the continual improvements in the function at 4 weeks and at 6 weeks after begining of the treatment (p0.05). CONCLUSION: BATRAC improves motor performance of the paretic upper extremity and will be useful as an additional tool of improving motor function in patients with stroke.