NCT03316365

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

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Toronto · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Continuous Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation
• Intermittent Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS)	The experimental group (continuous treatment) trained daily with Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) for 24 weeks. The control group (intermittent treatment) trained with RAS for 8 weeks, discontinued training for 8 weeks, and resumed training with RAS for 8 weeks. During treatment subjects walked for 30 minutes in a home-based environment with metronome-click embedded music downloaded to an MP3 player and listened to either free-field or via headphones. For the first 8 weeks subjects had 3 metronome rates available to choose from: 100, 105, and 110% of internal usual cadence. During the second 8 weeks available rates were 105, 110 and 115%; and during the last 8 weeks 110, 115, 120%. The control group started their last training segment at 105, 110, and 115%, but could request a change to the faster rates if comfortable.

Timeline

• Start date: 2009-08-01
• Primary completion: 2011-08-01
• Completion: 2011-08-01
• First posted: 2017-10-20
• Last updated: 2018-06-21