What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to explore how rhythmic auditory stimuli affect step time and trunk acceleration during the initial steps of walking.

January 10, 2026Journal of Physical Therapy Science0 citationsOpen Access

Effects of rhythmic auditory stimulation prior to walking on step time and trunk acceleration during the first five steps of walking initiation: a preliminary study in healthy adults

YTYuki TakahashiHyogo University of Health Sciences HIHiroyasu IwatsukiAomori University of Health and Welfare NKNaoki KadoHyogo University of Health Sciences

Key Result

Rhythmic auditory stimulation prior to walking reduced variability in step time and trunk accelerations during initiation in healthy adults.

Key Points

The aim is to explore how rhythmic auditory stimuli affect step time and trunk acceleration during the initial steps of walking.
Seventeen healthy adults participated, noting their step time and trunk acceleration.
Participants performed walking tasks with rhythmic auditory stimulation at two different starting points.
Step times and trunk accelerations were measured and compared between tasks.
Step time was significantly longer in Task 2 compared to Task 1.
Variation in step time and trunk accelerations was significantly lower in Task 2.

Structured PICO

Does listening to 10 rhythmic auditory stimuli prior to walking improve step time and trunk acceleration variability during walking initiation in healthy adults compared to a single stimulus?

Population

17 healthy, right-foot dominant adults (10 males, 7 females; mean age 23.2 ± 4.9 years; mean height 165.3 ± 10.2 cm) without orthopedic or neurological abnormalities.

Intervention

Initiating walking after listening to the 10th rhythmic auditory stimulus matched to comfortable walking tempo (Task 2).

Comparator

Initiating walking after listening to the 1st rhythmic auditory stimulus (Task 1).

Outcome

Variations (coefficients of variation) in step time and peak trunk acceleration values (vertical, lateral, and forward/backward directions) during the first five steps of walking initiation.surrogate

Listening to rhythmic auditory stimuli 10 times before walking decreases the variability in step time and trunk acceleration during walking initiation in healthy adults, potentially improving walking stability.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to investigate variations in step time and trunk acceleration during the first five steps of walking initiation when rhythmic auditory stimuli matched to a comfortable walking tempo, were provided before walking. Participants and Methods Seventeen healthy, right-foot dominant adults (10 males, 7 females; mean age 23.2 ± 4.9 years; mean height 165.3 ± 10.2 cm) without orthopedic or neurological abnormalities were enrolled in this study. The participants were instructed to perform 10 steps of indoor-level walking with rhythmic auditory stimulation in two tasks. In Task 1, participants began walking after hearing the 1st auditory stimulus, while in Task 2, they initiated walking after the 10th auditory stimulus. Step times; peak trunk acceleration values in the vertical, lateral, and forward/backward directions; and the coefficients of variation for these measures over the first five steps were compared between the two tasks. Results The step time during Task 2 was significantly longer than that during Task 1. The coefficients of variation for step time and lateral and forward trunk accelerations during Task 2 were significantly lower than those during Task 1. Conclusion This study found that the variability in step time and lateral and forward trunk accelerations during the five steps of walking initiation decreased when healthy participants listened to rhythmic auditory stimuli 10 times before walking.

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