The effect of external rhythmic cues (auditory and visual) on walking during a functional task in homes of people with Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate (1) the influence of rhythmic cues on gait interference during a functional activity and (2) the relationship of clinical symptoms to gait interference.

DESIGN

Repeated-measures study.

SETTING

Participants' homes.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty subjects with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) and a control group of 10 age-, sex-, and education-matched subjects.

INTERVENTIONS

Subjects performed a simple functional task that included a walking component and a dual-motor task. The functional task was performed with and without external rhythmic (auditory and visual) cues.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Walking speed, mean step length, and step frequency were compared during trials of the tasks. In addition, tests of cognitive executive function (Hayling and Brixton tests), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), and fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory) were undertaken.

RESULTS

The use of auditory cues during a dual task involving gait reduced the interference effect on the task; significant increases in step length were observed in PD subjects ( P =.018), representing an increase of 19%.

CONCLUSIONS

External auditory cues may be useful in reducing interference and maintaining gait performance during more complicated functional activities. Clinical symptoms, such as depression and fatigue, could influence the ability to focus attention and may increase gait interference during the performance of complex tasks, with subsequent implications for functional walking and safety.