Long-term Training Effects of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation on Gait in Patients With Parkinson's Disease

Falls are common among patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and are the biggest contributors to loss of independent living, long-term institutionalization, and increased mortality. The purpose of this study was to explore whether an at-home based Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) gait training program will decrease the number of falls in persons with PD with a history of falling. We also evaluated changes in clinical and kinematic parameters used to assess fall risk in this population. Sixty participants diagnosed with idiopathic PD with at least 2 falls in the past 12 months, were randomly allocated into two groups. The experimental group trained daily with RAS for 24 weeks. The control group also trained daily with RAS, but discontinued training between weeks 8 and 16. During treatment patients walked for 30 minutes in a home based environment with metronome-click embedded music. Changes in clinical and kinematic parameters were assessed at baseline, weeks 8, 16, and 24.