Effect of overground gait training with rhythmic auditory stimulation on lower limb motor coordination and activities of daily living in stroke survivors: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Overground walking exercise training is often employed as part of the community-based stroke rehabilitation program. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of overground gait training (OGT) with rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) on lower limb motor coordination and activities of daily living in stroke survivors. Methods: Twenty-eight stroke survivors were randomly assigned into two groups. Participants in Group A had OGT, while those in Group B had OGT with RAS twice a week for 6 weeks. Lower-extremity motor coordination test was used to assess lower limb motor coordination, while activities of daily living were assessed with Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (NEADL). Repeated measures analysis was used for within-group comparisons of the LEMOCOT scores, while Friedman's test was used for within-group comparisons of NEADL scores. Linear mixed effect regression model was used to compare the LEMOCOT scores between the groups, while Mann–Whitney U-test was used to compare the NEADL scores between the groups (P ≤ 0.05). Results: The mean values of LEMOCOT scores for the paretic limb and nonparetic limb (9.14; 8.43) improved significantly at the 3rd and 6th weeks (9.86, 10.21; 19.36, 20.29), respectively, among participants in Group A. There was a significant improvement in the mean rank of the NEADL in the 6th week (2.39) compared with the baseline (1.64). In Group B, the mean values of LEMOCOT scores for the paretic limb and nonparetic limb (9.43, 18.79) improved by the 3rd and 6th weeks (11.29, 20.14; 11.71, 20.29). The mean rank of the NEADL at baseline (1.61) improved significantly in the 6th week (2.39). Conclusion: OGT with or without RAS is effective in improving lower limb motor coordination and activities of daily living among stroke survivors.