Effects of a Music-Based Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation on Gait and Balance in Subacute Stroke

Samira Gonzalez-Hoelling, Carme Bertran-Noguer, Gloria Reig-Garcia and Rosa Suñer-Soler
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Samira Gonzalez-Hoelling: Neurorehabilitation Department, Hospital Sociosanitari Mutuam Girona, 17007 Girona, Spain
Carme Bertran-Noguer: Health and Health Care Research Group, University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain
Gloria Reig-Garcia: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain
Rosa Suñer-Soler: Health and Health Care Research Group, University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: Gait and balance impairments are common after stroke. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a music-based rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) in combination with conventional physiotherapy on gait parameters and walking ability in subacute stroke. This single-blind, historical controlled trial, included 55 patients who had suffered a stroke within the three weeks prior to enrolment. Patients from 2018 ( n = 27) were assigned as the historical control group whereas 2019 patients ( n = 28) received music-based RAS three times a week. Both groups received 11 h of conventional physiotherapy per week during hospitalization. Primary outcomes were gait and balance parameters (Tinetti test and Timed Up&Go test) and walking ability (Functional Ambulation Category scale). Secondary outcomes were trunk control, assistive devices, functional independence (Functional Independence Measure, Barthel index), and stroke severity and disability (modified Rankin scale, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale). Results: No between-group differences were identified for gait and balance parameters nor for secondary outcomes. Significant between-group differences were observed in the Functional Ambulation Category: the intervention group (?mean ± SD; 3.43 ± 1.17) showed greater improvement ( p = 0.002) than the control group (?mean ± SD; 2.48 ± 1.09). Compared with conventional physiotherapy alone, our results suggest that the walking ability of subacute stroke patients might be improved with music-based RAS combined with conventional physiotherapy, but this treatment is not more effective than conventional physiotherapy in obtaining gait and balance gains.

Keywords: stroke; rhythmical auditory stimulation; physical therapy; musical therapy; rehabilitation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:2032-:d:502091

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