The Effects of Acoustic Environment on the Gait of Healthy Young Adults

Abstract

<p>This study examined how an individual's gait was affected by their acoustic environment. Participants were instructed to walk at a normal pace while listening to either a steady beat or a song of their choice, or in silence. A computer program called Pitch Switch was used to match the tempo of both the metronome and music to the participant's preferred walking speed, so that the pace of walking was always set by the participant. A number of physical parameters were measured with a Gait Rite system in all three acoustical conditions. These measurements included stride length and step width, among others. These results will inform future studies on music and gait in Parkinson's disease.</p>