J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2002 Dec;26(6):667-671.

The Efficacy of Repetitive Bilateral Arm Training with Rhythmic Auditory Cueing for Patients with Stroke

• Chon JS
• Kim SW
• Lee SJ
• Kim HJ
• Kim SH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of repetitive bilateral arm training with rhythmic auditory cueing (BATRAC) on functional motor performances of the hemiplegic upper limb. METHOD: Twenty four subjects with stroke (12 males, 12 females) were enrolled and classified into two groups, experimental and control group. The control group received conventional rehabilitation therapy while the experimental group received additional BATRAC. The motor function of patient's upper extremity was assessed by Fugl-Meyer Motor Function Assessment (FMA), Manual Function Test (MFT), and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) before the treatment, at 4 weeks and at 6 weeks after begining of the treatment.
RESULTS
There were no differences in FMA between two groups before the treatment and the continual improvements in the function at 4 weeks and at 6 weeks after begining of the treatment (p<0.05). Furthermore, the experimental group revealed higher performances in FMA than control group (p<0.05). However, there were no differences in FIM and MFT before the treatment and in the improvements of function after the treatment between two groups (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
BATRAC improves motor performance of the paretic upper extremity and will be useful as an additional tool of improving motor function in patients with stroke.

Keyword

Stroke; Auditory cueing; Functional motor performance

MeSH Terms

Arm*
Cues*
Humans
Male
Rehabilitation
Stroke*
Upper Extremity