Synchronized walking cadence for TUG in perturbed environments: Using Earcon or Tacton cues?

Abstract

Audio and haptic cueing have proven their usability to assist gait for patients with Parkinson's disease. These cueings are used when a gait issue is classified in real-time by an artificial intelligent algorithm using wearable IMU signals located at the lower limb. Such gait issue could be freezing of gait (FOG) and Bradykinesia symptoms. This system detects freezing periods and plays a rhythmic pattern such as Tacton or Earcon in haptic or audio respectively. When prior training is done with an appropriate serious game, cueing could help to recover gait cadence and then help to avoid fall. Both types of cueing were used in different research works without prior analysis on the best stimulation to use in a perturbed environment. Since rhythmic auditory sound could be an issue in a real outdoor environment, this paper suggests evaluating rhythmic stimulation cueing with the Time Up and Go clinical assessment test used for mobility evaluation.