Article

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) on
gait patterns in comparison with changes after neurodevelopmental treatment
(NDT/Bobath) in adults with cerebral palsy. DESIGN: A repeated-measures analysis
between the pretreatment and posttreatment tests and a comparison study between
groups. Setting: Human gait analysis laboratory. SUBJECTS: Twenty-eight cerebral
palsy patients with bilateral spasticity participated in this study. The subjects
were randomly allocated to either neurodevelopmental treatment
(n = 13) or
rhythmic auditory stimulation (n = 15). INTERVENTIONS: Gait training with
rhythmic auditory stimulation or neurodevelopmental treatment was performed three
sessions per week for three weeks. Temporal and kinematic data were analysed
before and after the intervention. Rhythmic auditory stimulation was provided
using a combination of a metronome beat set to the individual's cadence and
rhythmic cueing from a live keyboard, while neurodevelopmental treatment was
implemented following the traditional method. MAIN MEASURES: Temporal data,
kinematic parameters and gait deviation index as a measure of overall gait
pathology were assessed. RESULTS: Temporal gait measures revealed that rhythmic
auditory stimulation significantly increased cadence, walking velocity, stride
length, and step length (P < 0.05). Kinematic data demonstrated that anterior
tilt of the pelvis and hip flexion during a gait cycle was significantly
ameliorated after rhythmic auditory stimulation (P < 0.05). Gait deviation index
also showed modest improvement in cerebral palsy patients treated with rhythmic
auditory stimulation (P < 0.05). However, neurodevelopmental treatment showed
that internal and external rotations of hip joints were significantly improved,
whereas rhythmic auditory stimulation showed aggravated maximal internal rotation
in the transverse plane (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:
Gait training with rhythmic
auditory stimulation or neurodevelopmental treatment elicited differential
effects on gait patterns in adults with cerebral palsy.

Langue : ANGLAIS