Patrycja Twardawa’s research while affiliated with Silesian University of Technology and other places

The aim of the study was to define the effect of different short-term metro-rhythmic stimulations on the time and spatial parameters of gait. The secondary goal was to test whether prior instructions on how to respond to stimulations played a significant role in the stimulation by sound stimuli. Experimental tests of gait were conducted on a group of 36 healthy participants: group 1-subjects who were not informed how to react after hearing sound stimuli, group 2-subjects who received a clear instruction before the test to adjust the frequency of taking steps to the rhythm of the music. The gait research was carried out on a Zebris FDM-S (zebris Medical Gmbh, Isny, Ger-many) treadmill for various sound stimuli (arrhythmic stimulus, rhythmic stimuli at different rate). It was shown that a short-term influence of metro-rhythmic stimulations changes the time and spatial parameters of gait, i.e., gait frequency, length and duration of the gait cycle. The greatest impact on the modification of the time-space parameters of walking is exerted by rhythmic stimuli at a pace different from the frequency of gait at a preferred velocity. Providing information on how to respond to sounds heard may be important in gait therapy with RAS (rhythmic auditory stimulation).

The research discussed in the article involved the assessment of the effect of various types of metro-rhythmic stimulations and the manner of their application on the variability of gait frequency in a group of persons without locomotor function disorders. Tests of gait were attended by 22 adults in two equal groups: group 1—persons, who were not informed how to behave after hearing sounds, group 2—persons clearly instructed before the test to walk in the rhythm of music (stimulation). The tests of locomotor functions were performed using a Zebris FDM-S treadmill. The analysis involved changes in gait frequency during the gait accompanied by various types of sound stimulations (arrhythmic stimulus, rhythmic stimulus at a rate corresponding to gait frequency at a preferable speed, rhythmic stimulus presented at a rate corresponding to gait frequency increased by 10%, rhythmic stimulus presented at a rate of the double gait frequency). It was demonstrated that acoustic stimuli heard during gait can affect its frequency. The frequency of gait was mostly influenced by rhythmic stimuli, the rate of which varied from the frequency of steps at a preferable pace. The short-term sound-based stimulation was also affected by the fact whether a examined person had been informed on how to react to stimulation.