Efficacy of a Single-Bout of Auditory Feedback Training on Gait Performance and Kinematics in Healthy Young Adults

Abstract

This study investigated the immediate effects of auditory feedback training on gait performance and kinematics in 19 healthy young adults, focusing on bilateral changes, despite unilateral training. Baseline and post-training kinematic measurements, as well as the feedback training were performed on a treadmill with a constant velocity. Significant improvements were seen in step length (trained: 590.7 mm to 611.1 mm, 95%CI [7.609, 24.373]; untrained: 591.1 mm to 628.7 mm, 95%CI [10.698, 30.835]), toe clearance (trained: 13.9 mm to 16.5 mm, 95%CI [1.284, 3.503]; untrained: 11.8 mm to 13.7 mm, 95%CI [1.763, 3.612]), ankle dorsiflexion angle at terminal stance (trained: 8.3 deg to 10.5 deg, 95%CI [1.092, 3.319]; untrained: 9.2 deg to 12.0 deg, 95%CI [1.676, 3.573]), hip flexion angular velocity, (trained: −126.5 deg/s to −131.0 deg/s, 95%CI [−9.054, −2.623]; untrained: −130.2 deg/s to −135.3 deg/s, 95%CI [−10.536, −1.675]), ankle angular velocity at terminal stance (trained: −344.7 deg/s to −359.1 deg/s, 95%CI [−47.540, −14.924]; untrained: −340.3 deg/s to −376.9 deg/s, 95%CI [−37.280, −13.166s]), and gastrocnemius EMG activity (trained: 0.60 to 0.66, 95%CI [0.014, 0.258]; untrained: 0.55 to 0.65, 95%CI [0.049, 0.214]). These findings demonstrate the efficacy of auditory feedback training in enhancing key gait parameters, highlighting the bilateral benefits from unilateral training.