BeatWalk: Personalized Music-Based Gait Rehabilitation in Parkinson’s Disease

Authors

Valérie Cochen de Cock, Université de Montpellier
Dobromir Dotov, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Loic Damm, University of Montpellier
Sandy Lacombe, Beau Soleil Clinic
Petra Ihalainen, University of Montpelliee
Marie Christine Picot, University of Montpellier
Florence Galtier, University of Montpellier
Cindy Lebrun, University of Montpellier
Aurélie Giordano, University of Montpellier
Valérie Driss, University Hospital of Montpellier & Inserm
Christian Geny, University of Montpellier
Ainara Garzo, Basque Research and Technology Alliance
Erik Hernandez, Basque Research and Technology Alliance
Edith Van Dyck, Institute for Psychoacoustics and Electronic Music
Marc Leman, Institute for Psychoacoustics and Electronic Music
Rudi Villing, Maynooth University
Benoit G. Bardy, University of Montpellier
Simone Dalla Bella, University of Montpellier

Author ORCID Identifier

Dotov https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5543-360X

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-25-2021

Abstract

Taking regular walks when living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) has beneficial effects on movement and quality of life. Yet, patients usually show reduced physical activity compared to healthy older adults. Using auditory stimulation such as music can facilitate walking but patients vary significantly in their response. An individualized approach adapting musical tempo to patients’ gait cadence, and capitalizing on these individual differences, is likely to provide a rewarding experience, increasing motivation for walk-in PD. We aim to evaluate the observance, safety, tolerance, usability, and enjoyment of a new smartphone application. It was coupled with wearable sensors (BeatWalk) and delivered individualized musical stimulation for gait auto-rehabilitation at home. Forty-five patients with PD underwent a 1-month, outdoor, uncontrolled gait rehabilitation program, using the BeatWalk application (30 min/day, 5 days/week). The music tempo was being aligned in real-time to patients’ gait cadence in a way that could foster an increase up to +10% of their spontaneous cadence. Open-label evaluation was based on BeatWalk use measures, questionnaires, and a six-minute walk test. Patients used the application 78.8% (±28.2) of the prescribed duration and enjoyed it throughout the program. The application was considered “easy to use” by 75% of the patients. Pain, fatigue, and falls did not increase. Fear of falling decreased and quality of life improved. After the program, patients improved their gait parameters in the six-minute walk test without musical stimulation. BeatWalk is an easy to use, safe, and enjoyable musical application for individualized gait rehabilitation in PD. It increases “walk for exercise” duration thanks to high observance.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.655121

Journal Title

Frontiers in Psychology

Volume

12

Recommended Citation

Cochen de Cock, Valérie; Dotov, Dobromir; Damm, Loic; Lacombe, Sandy; Ihalainen, Petra; Picot, Marie Christine; Galtier, Florence; Lebrun, Cindy; Giordano, Aurélie; Driss, Valérie; Geny, Christian; Garzo, Ainara; Hernandez, Erik; Van Dyck, Edith; Leman, Marc; Villing, Rudi; Bardy, Benoit G.; and Bella, Simone Dalla, "BeatWalk: Personalized Music-Based Gait Rehabilitation in Parkinson’s Disease" (2021). Journal Articles. 397.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/biomechanicsarticles/397

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.