Ann Rehabil Med.  2018 Feb;42(1):1-7. 10.5535/arm.2018.42.1.1.

Immediate Effects of Mental Singing While Walking on Gait Disturbance in Hemiplegic Stroke Patients: A Feasibility Study

• Lee SY
• Seok H
• Kim SH
• Park M
• Kim J

• KMID: 2440963
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2018.42.1.1

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the immediate therapeutic effects of mental singing while walking intervention on gait disturbances in hemiplegic stroke patients.
METHODS
Eligible, post-stroke, hemiplegic patients were prospectively enrolled in this study. The inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of hemiplegia due to stroke, and ability to walk more than 10 m with or without gait aids. Each patient underwent structured music therapy sessions comprising 7 consecutive tasks, and were trained to sing in their mind (mental singing) while walking. Before, and after training sessions, gait ability was assessed using the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), gait velocity, cadence and stride length.
RESULTS
Twenty patients were enrolled in the interventions. Following the mental singing while walking intervention, significant improvement was observed in the 10MWT (13.16±7.61 to 12.27±7.58; p=0.002) and the TUG test (19.36±15.37 to 18.42±16.43; p=0.006). Significant improvement was also seen in gait cadence (90.36±29.11 to 95.36±30.2; p < 0.001), stride length (90.99±33.4 to 98.17±35.33; p < 0.001) and velocity (0.66±0.45 to 0.71±0.47; p < 0.002).
CONCLUSION
These results indicate the possible effects of mental singing while walking on gait in patients diagnosed with hemiplegic stroke.

Keyword

Stroke; Music therapy; Gait disorders; Neurologic

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Feasibility Studies*
Gait*
Hemiplegia
Humans
Music Therapy
Prospective Studies
Singing*
Stroke*
Therapeutic Uses
Walking*
Therapeutic Uses

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Flowchart of the study design. 10MWT, 10-Meter Walk Test; TUG, Timed Up and Go test.

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