Effect of the cognitive-motor dual-task using auditory cue on balance of surviviors with chronic stroke: a pilot study

Objective: To investigate the effect of a cognitive-motor dual-task using auditory cues on the balance of patients with chronic stroke. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation center. Subjects: Thirty-seven individuals with chronic stroke. Interventions: The participants were randomly allocated to the dual-task group (n=19) and the single-task group (n=18). The dual-task group performed a cognitive-motor dual-task in which they carried a circular ring from side to side according to a random auditory cue during treadmill walking. The single-task group walked on a treadmill only. All subjects completed 15 min per session, three times per week, for four weeks with conventional rehabilitation five times per week over the four weeks. Main measures: Before and after intervention, both static and dynamic balance were measured with a force platform and using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Results: The dual-task group showed significant improvement in all variables compared to the single-task group, except for anteroposterior (AP) sway velocity with eyes open and TUG at follow-up: mediolateral (ML) sway velocity with eye open (dual-task group vs. single-task group: 2.11 mm/s vs. 0.38 mm/s), ML sway velocity with eye close (2.91 mm/s vs. 1.35 mm/s), AP sway velocity with eye close (4.84 mm/s vs. 3.12 mm/s). After intervention, all variables showed significant improvement in the dual-task group compared to baseline. Conclusion: The study results suggest that the performance of a cognitive-motor dual-task using auditory cues may influence balance improvements in chronic stroke patients.