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Singing As A Therapeutic Technique To Improve Gait For People With Parkinson Disease, Elinor Harrison

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract of the Dissertation

Singing as a Therapeutic Technique to

Improve Gait for People with Parkinson Disease

by

Elinor Clare Harrison

Doctor of Philosophy in Movement Science

Neurosciences

Washington University in St. Louis, 2018

Professor Gammon Earhart, Chair

Gait impairment is common in older adults and even more prevalent for people with Parkinson disease (PD). Gait dysfunction is often characterized by reductions in speed, step frequency, and step length. In addition, decreased ability to regulate step length and step frequency may contribute to increased gait variability, making walking less stable and increasing risk for falls. As gait deficits are often …

The Effect Of Patterned Sensory Enhancement On Balance And Ambulation In Persons Diagnosed With Parkinson’S Disease, Brittany Barko

Masters Theses

One rehabilitation protocol effective in delaying the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is Lee Silverman Voice Training BIG (LSVT BIG), comprising pre-gait exercises and gait training. This study seeks to determine if combining Patterned Sensory Enhancement (PSE), a music therapy intervention, with LSVT BIG will improve quality of movement. During physical therapy sessions with three participants, a music therapist adapted the PSE stimuli to support each patient’s motor needs, which were then recorded on CD and sent with patients to exercise with at home. Results showed improved balance and ambulation comparing pre- and post- measures of the BERG balance scale …