Treadmill training with music cueing: a new approach for Parkinson’s gait facilitation

Background: It has been pointed that cueing techniques may have influence upon gait training in Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Objective: Study the effects of music cue on treadmill training in PD patients.

Subject and methods: A randomized single-blind controlled trial was conducted. Thirty male PD patients, aged 60 to 80 years with Hoehn and Yahr stage 2-3 were allocated into three groups (each 10 patients). Group A: treadmill with music three days and home walking three days/week, Group B: treadmill three days and home walking three days/week, and Group C: home walking six days/week. Each group received four weeks training followed by self-practice for other four weeks. Gait performances at pre-program, fourth, and eighth week were compared.

Results: The results showed that A, B, and C, stride length gained 12%, 5.2%, and 6.7% (p=0.042), walking-speed gained 8.6%, 6.5%, and -2.4%, six-minute walk distance gained 10.2%, 5.4%, and 2.9%, and Timed Up and Go (TUG) gained 14.2%, 12.5%, and 7.6%.

Conclusion: Music cue enhanced gait training in mild to moderate PD patients.