The effects of music‐supported therapy on motor, cognitive, and psychosocial functions in chronic stroke

Abstract

Neuroplasticity accompanying learning is a key mediator of stroke rehabilitation. Training in playing music in healthy populations and patients with movement disorders requires resources within motor, sensory, cognitive, and affective systems, and coordination among these systems. We investigated effects of music-supported therapy (MST) in chronic stroke on motor, cognitive, and psychosocial functions compared to conventional physical training (GRASP). Twenty-eight adults with unilateral arm and hand impairment were randomly assigned to MST (n = 14) and GRASP (n = 14) and received 30 h of training over a 10-week period. The assessment was conducted at four time points: before intervention, after 5 weeks, after 10 weeks, and 3 months after training completion. As for two of our three primary outcome measures concerning motor function, all patients slightly improved in Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment hand score, while the time to complete Action Research Arm Test became shorter in the MST group. The third primary outcome measure for well-being, Stroke Impact Scale, was improved for emotion and social communication earlier in MST and coincided with the improved executive function for task switching and music rhythm perception. The results confirmed previous findings and expanded the potential usage of MST for enhancing quality of life in community-dwelling chronic-stage survivors.

Development and evaluation of a novel music-based therapeutic device for upper extremity movement training: A pre-clinical, single-arm trial

“…Active music playing as a therapy is an enjoyable activity that involves complex and coordinated movements while placing a high demand on cognitive functions, such as attention, working memory, and executive function [27,86]. It has been demonstrated that active music engagement through instrument playing promotes significant cognitive benefits to attention and verbal memory [87,88]. Moreover, several neurologic music therapy interventions have been developed specifically for cognitive rehabilitation focusing on auditory attention and perception training, memory training, and executive function training [89][90][91].…”

New Perspectives on Music in Rehabilitation of Executive and Attention Functions

“…In another RCT, 28 chronic stroke patients without extensive musical experience received either 30-h of music-supported therapy (MST) or conventional physical training over a 10-week period (Fujioka et al, 2018). The MST protocol included mapping functional movements on playing musical instruments, which was based on the NMT technique (Thaut, 2005), as well as music-making with a therapist.…”

Aerobic training with rhythmic functional movement: Influence on cardiopulmonary function, functional movement and Quality of life in the elderly women

“…Training in playing music in healthy populations and patients with movement disorders requires resources within motor, sensory, cognitive, and affective systems, and coordination among these systems. The music-supported therapy in chronic stroke on motor, cognitive, and psychosocial functions compared to conventional physical training (Fujioka et al, 2018). The music-based movement program improves physical function and sleep quality in people with multiple sclerosis (Young et al, 2017).…”