A Music-Based Digital Therapeutic: Proof-of-Concept Automation of a Progressive and Individualized Rhythm-Based Walking Training Program After Stroke. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hutchinson, Karen; Sloutsky, Regina; Collimore, Ashley; Adams, Benjamin; Harris, Brian; Ellis, Terry D.; Awad, Louis N.
• Is Part Of: Neurorehabilitation & neural repair. Volume 34:Number 11(2020)
• Page Start: 986
• Page End: 996
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: mHealth -- digital therapeutic -- rhythmic auditory stimulation -- music -- walking -- sensors -- rehabilitation; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Brain damage -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Spinal cord -- Wounds and injuries -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Regeneration -- Periodicals; Neuroplasticity -- Periodicals; 616.804305
• DOI: 10.1177/1545968320961114
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1545-9683

Abstract

Background: The rhythm of music can entrain neurons in motor cortex by way of direct connections between auditory and motor brain regions. Objective: We sought to automate an individualized and progressive music-based, walking rehabilitation program using real-time sensor data in combination with decision algorithms. Methods: A music-based digital therapeutic was developed to maintain high sound quality while modulating, in real-time, the tempo (ie, beats per minute, or bpm) of music based on a user's ability to entrain to the tempo and progress to faster walking cadences in-sync with the progression of the tempo. Eleven individuals with chronic hemiparesis completed one automated 30-minute training visit. Seven returned for 2 additional visits. Safety, feasibility, and rehabilitative potential (ie, changes in walking speed relative to clinically meaningful change scores) were evaluated. Results: A single, fully automated training visit resulted in increased usual (∆ 0.085 ± 0.027 m/s, P = .011) and fast (∆ 0.093 ± 0.032 m/s, P = .016) walking speeds. The 7 participants who completed additional training visits increased their usual walking speed by 0.12 ± 0.03 m/s after only 3 days of training. Changes in walking speed were highly related to changes in walking cadence ( R 2 > 0.70). No trips or falls were noted during training, all users reported that the device helped them walk faster, and 70% indicated that they would use it most or all of the time at home. Conclusions: In this proof-of-concept study, we show that a sensor-automated, progressive, and individualized rhythmic locomotor training program can be implemented safely and effectively to train walking speed after stroke. Music-based digital therapeutics have the potential to facilitate salient, community-based rehabilitation.