Effects of Multi-Directional Step-Up Training with Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation on Gait and Balance Ability in Stroke Patients

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of multi-directional step-up training with rhythmic auditory stimulation on gait and balance ability in stroke patients and also to help develop fall prevention and exercise programs for returning to daily life after stroke. The intervention method was randomly assigned to sixteen stroke patients, eight patients each in the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group carried out multi-directional step-up training with rhythmic auditory stimulation, and the control group performed only multi-directional step-up training. The training proceeded twelve times for 30 minutes for four weeks, and functional gait assessment, 10-meter walk test, and dynamic (by the Berg balance scale) and static (by Balancia software, Mintosys, Korea) balance ability assessments were conducted to examine the effect of the training on improving balance and gait ability. The study compared and analyzed the differences in the amount of change within the groups before and after training, and the differences in the amount of change between the two groups. Both groups showed more improved results after training than before in all assessments that measured gait and balance ability (p < 0.05). However, the experimental group showed a greater difference in the amount of change in every gait and balance ability assessment compared to the control group. (p < 0.05). Therefore, multi-directional step-up training can be an efficient intervention to improve the gait and balance ability of stroke patients and when accompanied by rhythmic auditory stimulation, the effectiveness could be maximized.