Changes in gait patterns with rhythmic auditory stimulation in adults with cerebral palsy

The objective is to evaluate the changes in gait patterns with rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) in adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Fourteen CP with bilateral spasticity participated in this study. A repeated-measures analysis of gait was performed in the presence and absence of RAS. Thirty healthy controls were also recruited. Each subject walked 10 m at their comfortable walking speed. Temporospatial data and kinematic parameters of gait were analyzed without RAS and with RAS. RAS was provided using a combination of a metronome beat set to the individual's cadence and rhythmic cueing from a live keyboard playing. Kinematic parameters, gait deviation index (GDI) as a measure of overall gait pathology, and asymmetry of temporospatial data were assessed. Gait analysis revealed that anterior tilt of pelvis and hip flexion during a gait cycle was significantly changed with RAS (p < 0.05), whereas there were no statistical differences in knee, ankle, and foot kinematic parameters. Additionally, the GDI exhibited a modest, but a statistically significant, improvement with RAS (p < 0.05). Based on ambulatory status, household ambulators showed that side-to-side asymmetry of step length as well as the GDI was significantly attenuated with RAS (p < 0.05). Walking with RAS resulted in kinematic changes of the pelvic and hip movement in spastic CP. Especially, the application of RAS immediately ameliorated overall gait pathology as well as temporospatial asymmetry in household ambulators. Therefore, RAS may be one of the therapeutic tools for gait training in adults with CP.