Effectiveness of Music Therapy with Personalized Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation Plus Music-Contingent Gait Training in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by motor disturbances that significantly impact balance, gait, and quality of life. Personalized Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (pRAS) is an emerging rehabilitative approach that utilizes auditory entrainment to improve step and gait control. The aim of this systematic review is to critically summarize the data from the most recent evidence concerning the use of pRAS in gait rehabilitation for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, including records that evaluated music-based or technological interventions based on personalized RAS. Primary outcomes included spatiotemporal gait parameters and distance covered. Results: Ten studies were included in the analysis. All the studies reported clinically relevant improvements: increases in gait speed, step length, and amplitude. Moreover, a reduction in freezing of gait episodes (up to 36%), greater walking distance, and good adherence were reported. Conclusions: Personalized, adaptive, or on-demand solutions proved more effective than traditional forms of cueing. Moreover, the available evidence suggests that pRAS constitutes an effective and safe rehabilitative option for gait disturbances in PD. However, further studies with larger sample sizes and prolonged follow-up periods are necessary to evaluate its long-term impact and transferability into clinical practice.