Effect of music rhythm stimulation on the lower limb motor function in ischemic stroke patients with hemiplegia

Objective To investigate the effect of music rhythm stimulation with the assisted rehabilitation training on the lower limb motor function in ischemic stroke patients with hemiplegia.Methods Forty ischemic stroke patients with hemiplegia in the rehabilitation period at the Department of Neurology,Guangdong No.2 Provincial People's Hospital were enrolled prospectively from March to August 2013.They were divided into either a test group or a control group(n = 20 in each group) according to the random number method.The patients of both groups conducted conventional treatment and rehabilitation training.At the same time,the patients were given music rhythm stimulation and were treated continuously for 30 days in the test group.Fugl-Meyer score and footprint method were used to evaluate the lower limb motor function and gait at day 1,15,and 30 in patients of both groups.Results(1) Compared to before training,there were significant differences in each indicator after a 30-day rehabilitation treatment between the control group and the test group(all P 0.05).The patients showed increased stride length,and increased 29.5% and 52.4% respectively;the step length differences between the ipsilateral and contralateral stride lengths were shortened.They were shortened 32.2% and 42.5% respectively;the pace frequencies were accelerated,they were accelerated 9.5% and 15.7% respectively;the maximum walking speeds were accelerated,they were accelerated 18.9% and 29.5% respectively.(2) The Fugl-Meyer scores of the test group at day 15 and 30 were significantly higher than those of the control group.There was significantly difference(P 0.05).The Fugl-Meyer scores of the test group at day 30 were higher than those of the same group at day 15(P 0.05).There was significant difference in gait at day 30 between the test group and the control group(P 0.05).Conclusion Music rhythm stimulation can improve the lower limb motor function in ischemic stroke patients with hemiplegia in a short term.It is an effective assistance method for rehabilitation.