Kenny KK Chan
School of Medical Health and Sciences, Tung Wah College, Hong Kong
Abstract Title: Effect of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation-based Exercise Training on Gait and Balance in Chinese Older Adult with Cognitive Impairment
Biography: Kenny KK Chan is a year four student in the BSc(Hons) in Physiotherapy Programme, Tung Wah College, Hong Kong. He has been dedicated to uniting local physiotherapy students and promoting physiotherapy in the community, leading various student physiotherapy associations including Physiotherapy Student Society and Hong Kong Physiotherapy Concern as the president
Research Interest: Promoting physical activity or exercise habits in older adults with cognitive impairment is essential both for promoting physical health and reducing fall prevalence. Rhythmic Auditory, Stimulation-based Motor Training (RASMT) involves subjects following rhythmic auditory cues while executing physical movements and has been shown to have significant benefits for physical conditions and performance. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of an exercise program incorporating RASMT on gait and balance functions in elderly individuals. Eleven female and five male elderly participants, aged 81±9 from a local day centre for elderly individuals with cognitive impairment, were recruited and allocated to the intervention group receiving RASMT, and the control group receiving usual care. The intervention group participants underwent 2 supervised 1-hour sessions per week, for a total of 8 weeks of the RASMT program. Participants performed sets of balancing and strengthening exercises facilitated by a designated metronome beat. Balance ability was measured using the Tinetti Gait and Balance Test as the primary outcome. Gait performance was evaluated using the Timed Up and Go test. Pre-test, post-test, and a 4-week follow-up assessment were conducted. The intervention group demonstrated high compliance (>85%) with the exercise training. A significant improvement trend in gait (TUGT, mean difference: 3.12s ± 6.64) and balance performance (Tinetti test, mean difference: 2.00 ± 3.32) scores over time (p<0.05) was found in the intervention group. However, pairwise comparisons did not reach significance after Bonferroni correction. The control group did not illustrate an improvement trend. Participants in the intervention group showed improved movement quality in terms of rhythm processing and coordination. RASMT has shown to be effective in improving gait balance in older adults with cognitive impairment.