Investigating the Effect of Motivational Music and Video and the Role of Cognitive Style on the Gait Kinematics of Elderly Individuals

In the present study, we investigated the impact of motivational music and video on gait parameters in older adults with different cognitive styles. Participants (<i>N</i> = 24; <i>M</i> age = 68.83 years, <i>SD</i> = 2.61) were divided into two cognitive style groups: field-dependent and field-independent, based on a hidden figures test. Participants completed a treadmill walking task under three different conditions (motivational music, motivational video, and no intervention). We measured their step width and step length and their hip, knee, and ankle joint angles at heel strike and toe-off. Results showed a significant positive effect of the music condition on step width and stride length and hip joint angle at heel strike, and ankle joint angle at toe-off. There was a significant effect of group (cognitive style) on step width, the angle of the hip joint and the angle of the knee joint at toe-off; however, there was no significant group by condition interaction for any of the assessed variables. Thus, walking with motivational music improved gait parameters in older adults.