Using musical instruments to improve motor skill recovery following a stroke

Abstract

In previous studies, it was shown that there is a need for efficient motor rehabilitation approaches. For this purpose, we evaluated a music-supported training program designed to induce an auditory-sensorimotor co-representation of movements in 20 stroke patients (10 affected in the left and 10 in the right upper extremity). Patients without any previous musical experience participated in an intensive step by step training, first of the paretic extremity, followed by training of both extremities. Training was applied 15 times over 3 weeks in addition to conventional treatment. Fine as well as gross motor skills were addressed by using either a MIDI-piano or electronic drum pads. As a control, 20 stroke patients (10 affected left and 10 right) undergoing exclusively conventional therapies were recruited. Assignment to the training and control groups was done pseudo-randomly to achieve an equal number of left- and right-affected patients in each group. Pre- and post-treatment motor functions were monitored using a computerized movement analysis system (Zebris) and an established array of motor tests (e. g., Action Research Arm Test, Box & Block Test). Patients showed significant improvement after treatment with respect to speed, precision and smoothness of movements as shown by 3D movement analysis and clinical motor tests. Furthermore, compared to the control subjects, motor control in everyday activities improved significantly. In conclusion, this innovative therapeutic strategy is an effective approach for the motor skill neurorehabilitation of stroke patients.

Music-Supported Training is More Efficient than Functional Motor Training for Recovery of Fine Motor Skills in Stroke Patients

“…Over the last several years we have developed a new approach to facilitate motor recovery using neurological music therapy, taking into account the above mentioned principles of repetitive training and increased motivational drive due to the inherent rewarding value MUSIC-SUPPORTED TRAINING IS MORE EFFICIENT THAN FUNCTIONAL MOTOR TRAINING FOR RECOVERY OF FINE MOTOR SKILLS IN STROKE PATIENTS of making music (Altenmüller, Schneider, MarcoPallares, & Münte, 2009;Schneider, Schönle, Altenmüller, & Münte, 2007). In addition to movement repetition and auditory feedback about the movement precision, the rapid establishment of auditory-sensorimotor corepresentations during the playing process has been hypothesized to underlie the efficacy of this treatment approach.…”

“…This experiment impressively demonstrated how dynamic brain adaptations accompany sensorimotor learning. In light of the above mentioned studies on auditorysensorimotor coupling, we designed a training program that entailed active music making in the rehabilitation of stroke patients (Altenmüller et al, 2009;Schneider et al, 2007) according to the following principles:…”

Do musicians have different brains?

“…21 The demonstration that perception and action can be closely coupled through musical performance opens possibilities for using music to affect action, for instance, in promoting motor function recovery following stroke. 22 …”

Midicine: Using MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) in Medicine for Treating Patients who experienced a Stroke - Review article

“…The types of intervention differed by adapting the treatment to the special injuries and therapeutic aims. Thus 5 of the studies were focusing on hand movement rehabilitation (Altenmuller et al, 2009;Chong, Cho, & Kim, 2014;Chong, Han, Kim, Park, & Kim, 2014;Rojo et al, 2011;Villeneuve & Lamontagne, 2013) 2 of them aimed at improving gross motor skills by focusing on hand movement (Schneider, Munte, Rodriguez-Fornells, Sailer, & Altenmuller, 2010;Schneider, Schonle, Altenmuller, & Munte, 2007) 1 focused on improving gait performance (Cha, Kim, Hwang, & Chung, 2014) 1 on improving leg movements (Schauer, Steingruber, & Mauritz, 1996) and 1 was investigated the formation of new neural networks.in music perception (Schuppert, Munte, Wieringa, & Altenmuller, 2000).…”