Real-time auditory feedback may reduce abnormal movements in patients with chronic stroke.

Abstract

The current pilot study assesses the use of real-time auditory feedback to help reduce abnormal movements during an active reaching task in patients with chronic stroke. 20 patients with chronic stroke completed the study with full datasets (age: <i>M</i> = 53 <i>SD</i> = 14; sex: male = 75%; time since stroke in months: <i>M</i> = 34, <i>SD</i> = 33). Patients undertook 100 repetitions of an active reaching task while listening to self-selected music which automatically muted when abnormal movement was detected, determined by thresholds set by clinical therapists. A within-subject design with two conditions (with auditory feedback vs. without auditory feedback) presented in a randomised counterbalanced order was used. The dependent variable was the duration of abnormal movement as a proportion of trial duration. A significant reduction in the duration of abnormal movement was observed when patients received auditory feedback, F(1,18) = 9.424, <i>p</i> = 0.007, with a large effect size (partial <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><msup><mrow><mi>η</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msup></math> = 0.344). Patients with chronic stroke can make use of real-time auditory feedback to increase the proportion of time they spend in optimal movement patterns. The approach provides a motivating framework that encourages high dose with a key focus on quality of movement. <b>Trial Registration:</b> ISRCTN12969079 https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12969079 <b>ISRTCN trial registration REF:</b> ISRCTN12969079IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONMovement quality during upper limb rehabilitation should be targeted as part of a well-balanced rehabilitation programme.Auditory feedback is a useful tool to help patients with chronic stroke reduce compensatory movements.