Mental Singing Reduces Gait Variability More Than Music Listening for Healthy Older Adults and People With Parkinson Disease
Harrison EC, Horin AP, Earhart GM
Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPT · 23 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Cross-sectional study (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
- Government
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Government
- NICHD NIH HHS
- Grants
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (T32-HD-007434)
Based on 2 listed funder(s).
Publication
- Published
- 2019-08-22 · J Neurol Phys Ther · vol. 43 · issue 4 · pp. 204–211
- Cited
- 34 citations · more than 97% of similar papers · 7.1× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 50 works
- Access
- Open access (repository copy)
- Research areas
- Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention · Neuroscience and Music Perception · Motor Control and Adaptation
- Keywords
- Cadence, Gait, Psychology, Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Singing, Metronome, Cued speech, STRIDE, Audiology, Cognition, Sensory cue, Medicine, Rhythm, Cognitive psychology
- MeSH
- humans, parkinson disease, gait, walking, cross-sectional studies, imagination, cues, music, aged, middle aged, female, male, singing
3 authors
From US
- Elinor C. HarrisonWashington University in St. Louis
- Adam P. HorinWashington University in St. Louis
- Gammon M. Earhart · correspondingWashington University in St. Louis
Abstract
Background and purpose
Previously, we showed that internal cues (such as singing) produce similar motor benefits as external cues (such as listening to music) for people with Parkinson disease (PD). This study takes that research further by exploring how singing-either aloud or mentally-at different tempos can ameliorate gait, and it offers insight into how internal cueing techniques may enhance motor performance for older adults and people with PD.
Methods
Sixty participants aged 50 years and older (30 female) were recruited; 30 had PD and 30 were healthy age-matched controls. Participants completed walking trials involving internal and external cueing techniques at 90%, 100%, and 110% of preferred cadence. The effects of different cue types and rates were assessed in a repeated-measures cross-sectional study by comparing gait characteristics (velocity, cadence, stride length) and variabilities (coefficients of variation of stride length, stride time, single support time).
Results
All participants modified their cadence and stride length during cued conditions, resulting in changes in gait velocity closely reflecting expected changes based upon cue rate. External cues resulted in increased gait variability, whereas internal cues decreased gait variability relative to uncued walking. Variability decreases were more substantial during mental singing at tempos at or above preferred cadence.
Discussion and conclusions
Matching movement to one's own voice improves gait characteristics while reducing gait variability for older adults and people with PD. Optimizing the use of internal cues to facilitate movement is an important step toward more effectively meeting the needs of people with gait disorders related to aging or neurological disease.Video Abstract available for more insights from authors (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A286).
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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