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Rhythmic auditory cues improve gait asymmetry during unobstructed walking in people with Parkinson's disease but have no effect on obstacle avoidance - AsymmGait-Parkinson study

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Author(s):
Cursiol, Jonatas Augusto ; dos Santos, Paulo Cezar Rocha ; Beretta, Victor Spiandor ; Orcioli-Silva, Diego ; Simieli, Lucas ; Schlenstedt, Christian ; Coelho, Daniel Boari ; Barbieri, Fabio Augusto
Total Authors: 8
Document type: Journal article
Source: FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE; v. 17, p. 11-pg., 2025-02-27.
Abstract

Introduction This study investigated the influence of rhythmic auditory cues (RAC) on gait asymmetry (GA) during unobstructed and obstacle avoidance walking in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and neurologically healthy individuals. Methods Thirteen individuals with PD (70.33 +/- 6.02 years) and 13 healthy controls (CG) (70.77 +/- 7.56 years) participated in this study. They performed a total of five trials during unobstructed walking and 10 trials during obstacle walking under each auditory cue condition (without and with RAC). For obstacle walking, five trials were performed with each limb as leading during obstacle avoidance. First, the volunteers performed the trials without RAC. The trial order, unobstructed or obstacle walking, was randomly defined, and the cues (controlled by a metronome) were personalized according to participants' cadence. The symmetric index of gait parameters was analyzed using 2 x 2 factorial analysis of variance (group and RAC as factors) separately for each gait type (unobstructed and obstructed walking). Results A group-by-auditory cue interaction for step velocity (p = 0.027) showed that the PD group exhibited 57.6% reduced asymmetry with RAC during unobstructed walking, with no significant effects observed for the CG. However, RAC had no effect on GA during obstacle avoidance walking in people with PD. Conversely, the CG exhibited 10.5% greater step length asymmetry, 7.1% greater step duration asymmetry, 7.0% greater step velocity asymmetry, and 10.6% greater double support duration asymmetry during obstacle avoidance with RAC (p < 0.001). Conclusion We conclude that RAC can reduce GA in people with PD during unobstructed walking, but appear to have no effect and negative effects on GA during obstacle walking in people with PD and neurologically healthy individuals, respectively. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 22/02971-2 - Unrevealing the gait asymmetry in patients with Parkinson’s Disease: from the neural and motor mechanisms to rehabilitation: AsymmGait-Parkinson study
Grantee:Fabio Augusto Barbieri
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Initial Project
FAPESP's process: 12/24040-9 - Asymmetry in the Parkinson Disease: effects on walking and posture
Grantee:Fabio Augusto Barbieri
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral