Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation and Walking Performance in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Patients

Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation and Walking Performance in MS Patients

The study is being conducted to determine if a home-based walking program that uses RAS (Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation)is a viable and effective treatment of gait instability for people with MS.We hypothesize that an RAS-based home walking program will demonstrate significant improvements over both regular exercise and no exercise. To test this hypothesis we will compare between group differences from baseline and three weeks of intervention on 3 quantitative gait measures and 1 standardized MS measurement from the following 3 groups: RAS walking, RAS no walking Other: Walking exercise The secondary goal of the study will be to determine any carry-over effects of RAS on gait parameters in ambulatory patients with MS. We hypothesize that RAS will produce sustained changes in gait pattern due to entrainment processes. To test this hypothesis, we will compare gait parameters two weeks following the cessation of the intervention with baseline and with the last week of intervention.

The third goal of this study is to determine if RAS-enhanced exercise has any transfer to improve other areas such as upper extremity function and/or cognitive function. We hypothesize that those participating in an RAS-based home walking program will demonstrate improvements in other domain areas, such as cognitive and upper body functioning. To test this hypothesis we will compare results from the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite(MSFC) taken at baseline and again at the end of the treatment phase for all three groups.

Thirty three patients will be recruited for the study.There will be three study groups 1)the walking and music group,2)music only no walking group 3)walking only no music group The subjects in the walking + music group and the music - no walking group will be provided a list of songs to choose from. MP3 players will be provided that contain the chosen music, which has been altered electronically with an embedded beat and set to their baseline walking cadence +10%. The subjects in the walking + music group will be instructed to walk while listening to the music for 20 minutes per day every day. The subjects in the music - no walking group will be instructed to sit in a chair and listen to the music for 20 minutes per day every day. The subjects in the walking -no music group will be instructed to walk for 20 minutes per day every day. The total duration of the interventions will be 3 weeks.

Study schedule Visit 1 (baseline): informed consent will be obtained. Subjects will be screened for inclusion/exclusion criteria.Subjects qualified for the study will be randomized to the treatment (MT) or control (C) group. Baseline assessments will be performed on all subjects.Subjects in the walking+music group and the music- no walking group will be given mp3 players with music.

Visit 2 (week 3): assessments will be performed on all subjects.All subjects will be instructed to discontinue walking and music regimens.

Visit 3 (week 5): All subjects will return for final assessments.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 years or older
• Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis documented in medical records
• Able to walk at least 100 feet without physical assistance (use of assistive devices such as cane, crutch, or walker is allowed.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Treatment for an MS exacerbation in the past 30 days
• Severe co morbidity precluding participation in the study per investigator's judgment (e.g. severe cardiac or respiratory failure)
• Severe cognitive deficits precluding informed consent or preventing the subject from following study procedures