An Interactive Music Synthesizer for Gait Training in Neurorehabilitation

Rhythm-based auditory cues have been shown to significantly improve walking performance in patients with numerous neurological conditions. This paper presents the design, implementation and evaluation of a gait training device capable of real-time synthesis and automated manipulation of rhythmic musical stimuli, as well as auditory feedback based on measured walking parameters. The proof-of-concept was evaluated with six healthy partici- pants, as well as through critical review by one neurore- habilitation specialist. Stylistically, the synthesized music was found by participants to be conducive to movement, but not uniformly enjoyable. The gait capture/feedback mechanisms functioned as intended, although discrepan- cies between measured and reference gait parameter values may necessitate a more robust measurement system. The specialist acknowledged the potential of the gait measure- ment and auditory feedback as novel rehabilitation aids, but stressed the need for additional gait measurements, superior feedback responsiveness and greater functional versatility in order to cater to individual patient needs. Further research must address these findings, and tests must be conducted on real patients to ascertain the utility of such a device in the field of neurorehabilitation.