A real-time auditory feedback system for retraining gait

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the principal cause of major long-term disability, incurring substantial distress as well as medical cost. Abnormal and inefficient gait patterns are widespread in survivors of stroke, yet gait is a major determinant of independent living. It is not surprising, therefore, that improvement of walking function is the most commonly stated priority of the survivors. Although many such individuals achieve the goal of walking, the caliber of their walking performance often limits endurance and quality of life. The ultimate goal of the research presented here is to use real-time auditory feedback to retrain gait in patients with chronic stroke. The strategy is to convert the motion of the foot into an auditory signal, and then use this auditory signal as feedback to inform the subject of the existence as well as the magnitude of error during walking. The initial stage of the project is described in this paper. The design and implementation of the new feedback method for lower limb training is explained. The question of whether the patient is physically capable of handling such training is explored.