A biofeedback music-sonification system for gait retraining

Abstract

Auditory feedbacks are becoming increasingly popular in sports providing opportunities for monitoring and gait (re)training in ecological environments. We present the design process of a sonification strategy for modification of running parameters. The sonification provides real-time feedback of the performance through introduction of distortion of a baseline music track. The music BPM is continuously matched to the runners' cadence. The noise-based continuous feedback was able to significantly alter the mean running cadence in a non-instructed and non-disturbing way and performed better than standard verbal instructions. Although some of the participants did not respond effectively to the feedback, a large majority of the participants positively rated the feedback system in terms of pleasantness and motivation.