Music to my ears. Movement to my steps...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music

"The applicable contribution of these novel findings is that music tempo could serve as an unprompted means to impact running cadence. As increases in step rate may prove beneficial in the prevention and treatment of common running-related injuries, this finding could be especially relevant for treatment purposes, such as exercise prescription and gait retraining."

Van Dyck E, Moens B, Buhmann J, Demey M, Coorevits E, Dalla Bella S, Leman M. Spontaneous Entrainment of Running Cadence to Music Tempo. Sports Med Open. 2015;1(1):15. Epub 2015 Jul 14.

link to free full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4526248/

image credit: http://pressplay.pbworks.com/w/page/82954552/Loebner%20Keith%20HW%203

Hearing and Gait Parameters

Here's an interesting study looking at the effects of her hearing on gait. Noticed that in children with hearing loss, walking speed was slower and this increased more with dual tasking. Muscle activities were greater as well, with respect to the medial gastroc, which is a strong he will adductor and supinator as well as vastus lateralis which internal swing is attenuating external rotation of the leg.

This implies that auditory cues and clues are important considerations during gait analysis and gait retraining.

"The findings indicated that gait speed in children with hearing loss was smaller than that in control group. Dual task resulted in a decreased walking speed of children with hearing loss. The activities of tibialis anterior muscle in terminal stance phase (p = 0.040), medial gastrocnemius muscle in loading response and initial swing phases (p < 0.05), and vastus lateralis muscle in the terminal stance and pre swing phases (p < 0.05) were greater in deaf group. In deaf children the gait speed was reduced and the muscle activity was increased with respect to those in control group. This altered gait speed and muscle activity is suggestive of a lower mechanical efficiency of gait in deaf children"

see our other posts on this here: https://thegaitguys.tumblr.com/search/sound

.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28752319

Who’d a thought? Can someone make an “app” for that?

Interesting study that we just found out about in the June 15th LER journal titled “Patients with ankle instability respond to auditory feedback by changing gait”

In this study they put a sensor under the head of the 5th metatarsal in 10 folks with chronic ankle instability that would emit a sound in respose to excessive lateral ankle pressure. They were told to “walk quietly” and not let the beeper beep. After a short time, the people in the study were able to walk with decreased pressures in the lateral forefoot, in addition to the midfoot and central forefoot. EMG showed increase in peroneal and medial gastroc activity.

Interesting implications and also some questions.

This study shows that auditory feedback can alter behavior and gait. Is this a good thing? We suppose this depends on what you are trying to accomplish and does it ultimately benefit the patient?

this sensor could be made into an “app” that has some cool rehabilitation implications. Imagine a moveable sensor or multiple sensors that could track patterns over time and plot them for you? The auditory could be used to discourage some bevaiors/characteristics of gait and the “tracking” feature could provide progress information. Or maybe is it hooked up to some of your favorite music and it stops playing when you are not weighting appropriately. Wondering if your patient is loading the head of the 1st metatarsal? This could provide some feedback.

Check it out:

Donovan l, Hart JM, Saliba S et al. Effects of an auditory feedback device on plantar pressure in participants with chronic ankle instability. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2015; 46(5 suppl); S104