METRONOME THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH PARKIN SONS-DISEASE

We studied 10 patients with Parkinson's disease and 12 patients with P arkinson-plus-syndrome, trying to improve patients' gait by applicatio n of various external rhythmic stimuli, including metronome stimulatio n (96 beats per minute-middle andante). The test course of the patient s was 4 x 10 meters and 3 U-turns. The patients' gait quality under st imulation was compared with their free walk (velocity, number of steps , number of freezing episodes). Metronome stimulation significantly re duced the time and number of steps needed for the test course and also diminished the number of freezing episodes. March music stimulation w as less effective and tactile stimulation (rhythmically tapping on the patient's shoulder) even produced negative results. The positive effe ct of metronome stimulation was also found, when the tests were not pe rformed inside the hospital building, but outside in the hospital parc . Metronome stimulation was comparably effective in both patient sub-g roups examined in this study (M. Parkinson, Parkinson-plus-syndrome) a nd seems to be an important additional help in the treatment of these patients. Electronical metronomes are not expensive, easy in handling, and portable. A theoretical explanation of metronome stimulation effe ctivity in patients with Parkinson's disease still needs to be elucida ted.