Effects of an Active Music Therapy Program on Functional Fitness in Community Older Adults

Abstract

Background Health problems common among older adults living in community settings include a lack of functional fitness. Many studies have confirmed that exercises and static music therapy improve physical and psychological health problems. Exercise programs involving music have a higher frequency of attendance and motivation than other exercise programs. Active participation in active group music therapy results in better therapeutic effects. Purpose This study was designed to test the effectiveness of a 3-month active group music therapy program on the functional fitness of community older adults in Taiwan. Methods A quasi-experimental design with repeated measures was applied. A convenience cluster sample of older adults was drawn from seven senior-citizen activity centers in southern Taiwan. All participants were assigned to either an experimental group (n = 77) or a comparison group (n = 69) based on the requests of each senior center. The experimental group participated in the active group music therapy program for 3 months (twice per week and 60 minutes per session). The comparison group maintained their daily activities. Each participant's level of functional fitness was measured at baseline and at 1 and 3 months after the start of the intervention. Results Seventy-one participants in the experimental group and 62 participants in the comparison group completed the 3-month study. At the 1-month measurement, the experimental group had greater improvements in cardiopulmonary fitness, upper body flexibility, lower body flexibility, upper limb muscle power, lower limb muscle endurance, and balance than the comparison group (all ps < .05). These significant improvements persisted through the 3-month intervention (all ps < .05). Conclusions/Implications for Practice Active group music therapy is an effective complementary and alternative therapy for improving six items of functional fitness in community-dwelling older adults. Healthcare professionals may incorporate this active group music therapy program as a health promotion activity for older adults living in community settings.

Membranophone percussion instruments in music therapy with adult patients in the health context: a scope review

“…A reasonable number of studies presented results related to the elderly population, with emphasis on the use of membranophones in a long-stay institution, as they require less cognitive demand, providing an improvement in mood and in quality of life, ability to imitate rhythm patterns that gradually become more complex ( 18 ) . These findings are validated by other studies showing positive results in the elderly population after music therapy interventions ( 38 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ) . Another finding, inherent to the elderly population is related to the vibrating responses (when the drum was placed on the participant’s lap and the participant felt the vibration), which lasted longer than the non-vibrating responses (when the drum was held by a music therapist, in front of the participant, off the patient’s lap) ( 19 ) .…”

Effectiveness of a musical fitness programme for older adults with cognitive impairment in long‐term care facilities: A quasi‐experimental study

“…• This paper highlights that after a 3-month musical fitness programme intervention, neuropsychiatric symptoms and depression decreased in older adults with cognitive impairment in long-term care facilities. physical interventions may enhance improvements in the health and functional independence of older adults with cognitive impairment (Chan & Chen, 2020;Langhammer et al, 2019). A combination of music therapy and physical activity is a non-invasive and safe intervention; nevertheless, its effects on neuropsychiatric symptoms, depression, upper-limb muscle strength and cognitive functions among institutionalised older adults are uncertain since limited evidence-based studies have been conducted.…”

“…As mentioned above, it seems that the combination of these two types of interventions can target both physical and cognitive deficits, thereby maximising the efficacy of intervention efforts and beyond the effects of a single‐component intervention (Fessel et al, 2017). There is emerging evidence that integrated music and physical interventions may enhance improvements in the health and functional independence of older adults with cognitive impairment (Chan & Chen, 2020; Langhammer et al, 2019). A combination of music therapy and physical activity is a non‐invasive and safe intervention; nevertheless, its effects on neuropsychiatric symptoms, depression, upper‐limb muscle strength and cognitive functions among institutionalised older adults are uncertain since limited evidence‐based studies have been conducted.…”

Effects of Passive Haptic Learning in Music-Supported Therapy on Sensorimotor Performance in Older Adult Hands: A Randomized Crossover Trial

“…Speci cally, MST increased the activity and connectivity between the auditory and motor cortical regions by providing individuals with auditory feedback for errors and real-time movement adjustments, which consequently boosted motor recovery of the upper limbs of stroke patients [18]. In addition to patients with neurological de cits, a recent study also revealed that active music therapy has effects on improving upper limb muscle power in community dwelling older adults [19]. However, the effects of MST on the sensorimotor control capacity of an aging hand closely related to lifestyle and living quality are as yet not well known.…”