The Effect of Rhythm Abilities on Metronome-Cued Walking with an Induced Temporal Gait Asymmetry in Neurotypical Adults

Abstract

ABSRACT. Human gait is inherently rhythmical, thus walking to rhythmic auditory stimulation is a promising intervention to improve temporal gait asymmetry (TGA) following neurologic injury such as stroke. However, the degree of benefit may relate to an individual’s underlying rhythmic ability. We conducted an initial investigation into the relationship between rhythm abilities and responsiveness of TGA when walking to a metronome. TGA was induced in neurotypical young adults with ankle and thigh cuff weights. Participants were grouped by strong or weak rhythm ability based on beat perception and production tests. TGA was induced using a unilateral load affixed to the non-dominant leg. Participants walked under three conditions: uncued baseline, metronome set to 100% of baseline cadence, and metronome set to 90% of baseline cadence. Repeated measures analysis using generalized estimating equations was conducted to determine how rhythm ability affected TGA response in each walking condition. Most participants improved TGA when walking to a metronome at either tempo compared to baseline; however, this improvement did not differ between strong and weak rhythm ability groups. Those who scored worse on the rhythm perception test also were poorer at synchronizing their steps to the beat. The induced TGA is smaller than what is commonly experienced after stroke. A larger induced TGA may be necessary to reveal subtle differences in responsiveness to rhythmical auditory stimulation between those with strong and weak rhythm abilities.

Keywords:

• gait
• rhythm
• perception
• asymmetry

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Dr. Rahim Moineddin for his assistance with the statistical analyses, and Dr. Dina Brooks for her mentorship and feedback on early interactions of this body of work.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available upon request to the corresponding author.

Funding

LC was supported by the Heart and Stroke's Canadian Partnership in Stroke Recovery Trainee Fellowship. KP holds a Heart and Stroke Foundation Clinician Scientist Phase II Award.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).