Effects of rhythmic auditory stimulation on gait speed in older adult inpatients in a convalescent rehabilitation ward: a pilot randomized controlled trial

To assess the impact of gait training with rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) on enhancing gait speed in older people admitted to a convalescent rehabilitation ward (CRW), compared to conventional gait training methods.

The study was designed as a single-center, open-label, pilot, randomized, parallel-group study. Thirty older people admitted to CRW were divided into two groups: the experimental group, which received gait training with RAS (n = 15, females = 53.3%, mean age = 83.9, SD = 6.5), and the control group, which underwent usual gait training (n = 15, females = 60.0%, mean age = 81.3, SD = 8.4). Regardless of their assigned group, all participants underwent 30 min training sessions, five times a week, for 3 weeks. The primary outcome was the 10 m walk test (10mWT), and the secondary outcomes included the Medical Outcome Study 8-Item Short-Form Health Survey and the Japanese version of the modified Gait Efficacy Scale. All measurements were taken at baseline and again at week 3.

Results indicated that older people in CRWs in the experimental group showed significant improvements in their 10mWT (effect size − 1.02) compared to the control group. None of the secondary outcomes were significant.

This study suggests the preliminary effectiveness and feasibility of a gait practice intervention using RAS in a CRW.

The University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Registered 1 October 2022 (UMIN000049089).