Use of music during physical therapy intervention for an infant with Erb's palsy: A single-subject design

Abstract

Evidence supporting the use of music during pediatric physical therapy intervention is limited. The purpose of this single-subject design was to evaluate the effects of music on patient progress, the amount of crying during therapy, and parent satisfaction with physical therapy services. The subject was an infant girl with Erb's palsy who participated in this study from age 8 months to age 20 months. An A-B-A withdrawal single-subject design was used. The patient's progress was assessed by using the T.I.M.E. The amount of crying was documented in the Crying Log. A parent satisfaction questionnaire was administered three times over the course of the study. The subject's progress in the music intervention period increased on three of five primary subtests of the T.I.M.E. The amount of crying decreased and parent satisfaction increased when music was played during therapy. Music may be used by pediatric physical therapists to decrease the patient's crying, increase parent satisfaction, and possibly to increase the child's rate of progress. Further research conducted with a group of infants and toddlers may help generalize these findings to a wider patient population.

Neurologic Music Therapy to Facilitate Recovery from Complications of Neurologic Diseases

“…Using background music during pediatric physical therapy sessions reduces the amount of crying and increases parent's satisfaction [76].…”

Effects of Music on Crying Behavior of Infants and Toddlers During Physical Therapy Intervention

“…Gouvier et al 14 described the use of music as a type of positive feedback and aversive auditory stimulation as a type of negative feedback during physical and occupational therapy sessions conducted with a 21-year-old patient with head injury. 16 The issue of increasing the child's comfort during physical therapy was explored by Rahlin et al 17 in a singlesubject research conducted with an infant with Erb's palsy. 14 Walmsley et al 15 described teaching head control to 5 children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and mental retardation while using music as a type of biofeedback and reported improvement in head control in 3 of 5 study participants.…”

“…14 Walmsley et al 15 described teaching head control to 5 children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and mental retardation while using music as a type of biofeedback and reported improvement in head control in 3 of 5 study participants. 17 The patient's progress was assessed using the Toddler and Infant Motor Evalua-tion™ (TIME™). The authors assessed the child's and parents' enjoyment of chest physical therapy using a questionnaire.…”

“…The authors assessed the child's and parents' enjoyment of chest physical therapy using a questionnaire. 17 The subject's progress in the music intervention period increased on 3 of 5 primary subtests of the TIME™. The researchers suggested that providing families of infants and toddlers with cystic fibrosis with prerecorded music tapes to use as an adjunct would assist them in establishing a positive routine for chest physical therapy.…”

“…They found that children and their parents enjoyed chest physical therapy intervention significantly more when a treatment music tape was used during the session, as compared to no music or a familiar music tape. 17 The purpose of this research was to continue investigation of the effects of music on the amount of time infants and toddlers cried during physical therapy by using an A-B-A withdrawal multiple single-subject design. 16 The issue of increasing the child's comfort during physical therapy was explored by Rahlin et al 17 in a singlesubject research conducted with an infant with Erb's palsy.…”