Improvement of gait function using Neurologic Music Therapy for gait disturbance caused by thalamic hemorrhage: a case study

Abstract

    Rhythmical gait training of Neurologic Music Therapy, which called Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) (30min per day, 5 times a week for 4 weeks), was provided in addition to the conventional physical therapy (60min per day, 7 times a week for 4 weeks) for a thalamic hemorrhage patient with sensory impairment. The patient had immediate and long-term beneficial effects on cadence, stride lengths, affected and unaffected stride, gait velocity, and gait symmetry. However, there were no differences in the limitation of movement, such as lack of heel strike and toe lift in his gait cycle due to sensory impairment. These data suggest that RAS in addition to conventional gait training is effective for the improvement of gait disturbance of patients with thalamic damaged; however additional approaches for sensory impairment may be necessary.