Sound-guided walking training for Parkinson, stroke and multiple sclerosis
Tests walking training with movement-linked sounds in stroke, Parkinson or sclerosis patients.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Sonification Techniques for Gait Training
Key facts
- Where
- Pavia, ItalySee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults with stroke, Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis who can walk on their own but have an altered gait. It tests walking training with or without sound feedback (sonification).
- Age
- Stroke and Parkinson's disease: under 80 years. Multiple sclerosis: under 60 years.
- Sex
- Men and women can join.
- Disease stage
- Stroke: Modified Rankin Scale 1-3, one-sided brain lesion, stable more than 6 months after the event. Parkinson's disease: UPDRS part III score under 28, stable disease. Multiple sclerosis: EDSS score 3-5, no relapse in the last 6 months.
- Earlier treatment
- Parkinson's disease: stable drug therapy. No music-based rehabilitation in the year before the study. Stroke and multiple sclerosis: no neurotoxin in the 3 months before, and no new or changed baclofen in the week before.
- Biomarker or test result
- Mini Mental State Examination score above 24.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Stroke with several or two-sided brain lesions, or neglect
- Spasticity above 2 on the Ashworth scale (stroke and multiple sclerosis)
- Stiff, non-elastic shortening of the Achilles tendon
- Other diseases that disable the lower limb functions
- Change of drug therapy during the study (Parkinson's disease)
Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Where in Italy
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCSPavia, ItalyContact: Isabella Springhetti, MDTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA
- Trial code
- NCT04876339
- Record updated
- 2 July 2026
- Original description
Music therapy is widely used in relational and rehabilitation settings. In addition to Neurologic Music Therapy and other music-based techniques, "sonification" approaches were recently introduced in the field of rehabilitation. The "sonification" can be defined as a properly selected set of sonorous-music stimuli are associated with patient movements mapping. In fact, the auditory-motor feedback can replace damaged proprioceptive circuits with a consequent improvement of the rehabilitation process. Interventions with "sonification" facilitate sensorimotor learning, proprioception and movements planning and execution improving global motor parameters. This study proposes the use of musical auditory cues which includes the melodic-harmonic component of the music. This kind of sonification makes the feedback pleasant and predictable as well as potentially effective. The investigators propose to apply and assess the effectiveness of this kind of sonification on gait training and other secondary outcomes in stroke, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis population. Also, the investigators will assess the impact of "sonification" on the level of fatigue perceived during the rehabilitation process and on the quality of life. The study is a multicenter randomized controlled trial and will involve 120 patients that will undergo standard motor rehabilitation or the same rehabilitation but with the sonification support. The interventions will be evaluated at the baseline, after 10 sessions, after 20 sessions and at follow-up (one month after the end of the treatment). The assessment will include functional, motor, fatigue and quality of life evaluations. The collected data will be statistically processed.Read full original descriptionShow less
Sonification Techniques for Gait Training: a Pilot Multicentric Randomized Controlled Trial
Music therapy is widely used in relational and rehabilitation settings. In addition to Neurologic Music Therapy and other music-based techniques, "sonification" approaches were recently introduced in the field of rehabilitation. The "sonification" can be defined as a properly selected set of sonorous-music stimuli are associated with patient movements mapping. In fact, the auditory-motor feedback can replace damaged proprioceptive circuits with a consequent improvement of the rehabilitation process. Interventions with "sonification" facilitate sensorimotor learning, proprioception and movements planning and execution improving global motor parameters. This study proposes the use of musical auditory cues which includes the melodic-harmonic component of the music. This kind of sonification makes the feedback pleasant and predictable as well as potentially effective. The investigators propose to apply and assess the effectiveness of this kind of sonification on gait training and other secondary outcomes in stroke, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis population. Also, the investigators will assess the impact of "sonification" on the level of fatigue perceived during the rehabilitation process and on the quality of life. The study is a multicenter randomized controlled trial and will involve 120 patients that will undergo standard motor rehabilitation or the same rehabilitation but with the sonification support. The interventions will be evaluated at the baseline, after 10 sessions, after 20 sessions and at follow-up (one month after the end of the treatment). The assessment will include functional, motor, fatigue and quality of life evaluations. The collected data will be statistically processed.
Inclusion: Age < 80; Mini Mental State Examination > 24; Modified Rankin Scale: 1-3; Single hemisphere lesion; Stabilized disease (> 6 months after the acute event); Impairment in gait parameters (e.g. velocity, perceived fatigue etc); Motor independence during walking (without orthotic devices and aids) but with pathological pattern (spasticity level: Ashworth < 2); Age < 80; Mini Mental State Examination > 24; Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale score (Parte III): < 28; Stabilized disease and drug therapy; Altered gait patterns; Motor independence during walking (without orthotic devices and aids) but with pathological pattern; Age < 60; Mini Mental State Examination > 24; Expanded Disability Status Scale score: 3-5; Stabilized disease in the last 6 months (without relapse or disability progression); Altered gait patterns (i.e., careening, slowing down, spasticity: Ashworth < 2, etc.); Motor independence during walking.
Exclusion: Neurotoxin in the 3 months prior to the study; Baclofen introduced or modified in the week before the start of the study; Previous or concurrent diseases disabling the lower limb functions; Previous or concurrent diseases disabling the lower limb functions; Changes of drug therapy during the study; Previous or concurrent diseases disabling the lower limb functions; Neurotoxin in the 3 months prior to the study; Baclofen introduced or modified in the week before the start of the study; Multiple or bilateral lesions; Neglect; Equinism; Spasticity: Ashworth >2; Structured (non-elastic) Achilles tendon retraction; Rehabilitative treatments with music in the year before the study; Rehabilitative treatments with music in the year before the study; Spasticity: Ashworth >2; Structured (non-elastic) Achilles tendon retraction; Rehabilitative treatments with music in the year before the study.