2015 Volume 42 Issue 6 Pages 519-523
Purpose: In this study, we aimed to investigate whether wheelchair propulsion by patients with severe Parkinson’s disease can be improved by using rhythmic auditory stimulation. Methods: Three wheelchair-bound patients (subjects A, B, and C) with stage 4 Parkinson’s disease, as assessed using the Hoehn & Yahr scale, were included in this study. The items assessed were the time required to propel the wheelchair 10 m at full exertion and the number of strokes. Each trial was divided into the following 4 phases: baseline, intervention, after intervention, and follow-up. Measurements were performed without rhythmic auditory stimulation during the baseline and follow-up, but with rhythmic auditory stimulation during and after the intervention. The intervention comprised 5 minutes of wheelchair propulsion, which was practiced twice per week for 4 weeks. Results: The time required for wheelchair propulsion and the number of strokes were markedly decreased after the intervention compared to that at baseline for subjects A (required time: 31%, number of strokes: 28% in comparison to 100% at baseline), B (37%, 26%), and C (54%, 65%). The effect was continued into the follow-up phase for subjects A and B, but not for subject C. Conclusion: This study suggests the possibility that wheelchair propulsion practice combined with rhythmic auditory stimulation is effective in improving wheelchair propulsion by patients with Parkinson’s disease.
