The effects of integrated visual and auditory stimulus speed on gait of individuals with stroke

Abstract

[Purpose] This study investigated the effects of integrated visual and auditory stimulus on the spatiotemporal gait parameters of individuals with hemiparetic stroke. Twelve patients with post-stroke hemiparesis from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of B Hospital in Seoul, Korea were enrolled in this study. [Methods] We carried out gait analysis of the participants under 3 different conditions of visual and auditory stimulus speed. Gait velocity, cadence, stride length, and step length were measured while the patients walked on the GaitRite system. [Results] Slow integrated auditory and visual stimulus (50%) significantly decreased gait velocity, cadence, stride length, and step length of both the paretic and non-paretic lower limbs as compared to the other conditions. Fast integrated visual and auditory stimulus (150%) significantly increased gait velocity, cadence, stride length, step length, and single support time of both lower limbs as compared to the other conditions. [Conclusion] Our results show that the speed of integrated visual and auditory stimulus modulates the spatiotemporal parameters of gait of chronic stroke patients. The information presented here is important for investigators who use integrated visual and auditory stimulus for the rehabilitation of individuals with hemiparetic stroke.