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How Does Music Therapy Help Parkinson’s Patients

Which Other Ways Could People Remain Interested And Participate

How Music Therapy Can Help You Live Well with Parkinson’s

Although there is no remedy for the condition, Parkinsons disease medications can help with symptom control. Keeping interested and participating is one way of helping deal with the symptoms. It can be accomplished by participating in self-directed activities, playing musical instruments, or singing. Art education, such as painting or sculpting, is another enjoyable way to remain interested and participate. It is critical to do what you relish because it will make the day more pleasurable.When painting, for instance, you may discover yourself pondering on everything from the climate to elections. The painting was shown to boost mood, reduce anxiety and depression, and boost well-being. Colour is necessary everywhere, even though its just painted on a canvas!

Furthermore, music therapy benefits people who have Parkinsons disease. Music therapy entails trying to make and play music, which benefits many aspects of people, including learning and memory, emotional regulation, and quality of sleep.

Ethics Approval And Consent To Participate

Informed consent will be obtained from all subjects participating in this study. Ethical approval was approved by the Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board . All research procedures will be performed in a confidential setting, and all documents generated by this study, including consent, will be stored in a locked filing cabinet in the locked office of the PI. Electronic data will be de-identified with the exception of a correlational spreadsheet including demographic information and study IDs for scheduling and safety contact purposes. This, and all other research data, will be stored on a password protected network drive and backed-up on the hard-drive of the PI. Identifying information will not be shared outside of the research team or regulatory bodies . Subjects have the right to request their personal health information as well as the results of the different research measures from the investigator, although they will be notified that these do not have any clinical value.

Music Therapy To Help Manage Parkinson’s Symptoms

When a doctor suggests singing, it can be a recommendation for music therapy. A clinical and evidence-based science, according to the American Music Therapy Association the use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. can improve quality of life for those with medical or psychological conditions. The Association promotes the benefits of music therapy and seeks to increase access to quality music therapy services used in healthcare and educational settings.1

Parkinsons disease is a chronic, degenerative, neurological disorder it is frequently characterized by a loss of motor function, yet it has serious non-motor symptoms as well. Cognitive and psychological decline may in fact appear before the motor symptoms. Speech and communication deficits often progress with the disease.

Music therapy has been demonstrated to be effective for people with PD. A review of music therapy programs in the scientific literature shows that playing and/or listening to music may have an effect on emotions, behaviors, movement, communication, and cognitive factors.2 The impact can modify brain activity. Studies have shown that the effects of music can result in changes to both psychological and movement-related symptoms in those being treated for PD.

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Why Does Rhythm Matter

Rhythm is an important part of music therapy for people with Parkinsons. Rhythm plays an essential role by creating a series of organized movements for the client. It helps to fight against the cognitive issues that affect the functionality of movement. People with Parkinsons struggle to move because their joints become stiff over time.

Rhythm helps to combat the struggle to move in clients with Parkinsons. This results in an increase in attention and focus. It also helps to coordinate movement, stimulate attention spans, and induce relaxation.

Recruitment And Informed Consent

Music Therapy for Parkinsons patients: Is it worth the try?

Participants will be recruited from the Movement Disorders Center at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, from the community via advertisements, fliers, and through support group outreach. After a preliminary telephone screening, evaluation and consent will be obtained at a face-to-face interview between the subject and a member of the research team. Study details will be explained to the subject in a quiet room, without disturbance. Each subject will be asked to review the consent document, approved by the Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board, and the University of Colorado Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, which will include HIPAA authorization. Although this trial has minimal risk, subject harms fall under responsibility of the subject and their insurance, as indicated in the consent form.

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About Music Therapy & Wmts

Music Therapists are credentialed healthcare professions who use music and musical elements to help clients live healthy and fulfilled lives.

Music Therapy sessions involve the application of music therapy interventions within the context of a therapeutic relationship, a relationship that is developed through music-based, verbal, and/or non-verbal communication. Certified MTAs use music to address human needs within cognitive, communicative, emotional, musical, physical, social, and spiritual domains. They conduct client assessments, develop treatment plans, implement therapy processes, and evaluate progress.

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Proof That Music Therapy Works

Music therapy works to help people with Parkinsons increase skills in sensory movements. In a study conducted by Natalia Garcia-Casares, twenty-seven articles analyzed the repercussions of motor symptoms. Out of twenty that analyzed the effects in motor systems, sixteen of the studies proved to increase within motor symptoms. Only four studies did not increase.

There were nine studies done on non-motor symptoms with people who have Parkinsons. Out of those nine, seven came back with positive results.

Eight studies emphasized on the quality of life for people with Parkinsons. Six of the eight studies correlated in a positive manner.

Neither non-motor or quality of life studies manifested any negative effects on music therapy. They either benefitted the clients or there was no change seen at all.

Another study was conducted in which thirty-two clients with moderate to severe Parkinsons were divided into two groups. Research from this study showed that physical therapy improved the ability to get dressed. It also helped clients do normal, everyday tasks. However, it did not help the clients in overall daily performance. Music therapy on the other hand, did. Clients reported that they felt as if they were less likely to fall or experience a sudden freeze up of muscles after music therapy treatment.

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Complementary Therapies For Pd

Complementary therapies are healing practices, performed in addition to standard treatments, with the goal of improving quality of life. My previous blog on art therapy and its use in Parkinsons disease introduced the concept of complementary therapies. Today, I will discuss complementary therapies more generally and also concentrate on music, dance and singing therapies that are used for PD.

As I have mentioned, some of the complementary therapies that are in use for PD include exercise/movement therapies such as boxing, yoga, and Tai chi, mindfulness techniques such as meditation, manual practices such as acupuncture and massage, and creative pursuits such as singing, music therapy, dance therapy, theater and art therapy.

Most of these complementary therapies have been formally studied in PD patients in some manner, although usually only in small groups of people. Dont see your therapy of choice mentioned? Dont worry the above list is not meant to be comprehensive and does not include every complementary therapy which has been studied in PD patients.

Music Therapy Interventions In Parkinsons Disease: The State

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Keywords:

Parkinsons disease is a neurological disorder involving the progressive degeneration of the dopaminergic system, which gives rise to movement-related dysfunctions as well as other symptoms, mainly of cognitive and psychological nature. In the latter case, mood disorders prevails frequently causing anxiety and depression in all phases of the disease, sometimes even before the motor symptoms occur.

Aarsland and colleagues report that 35% of the patients affected by PD present depression, whereas Richard states that anxiety is to be found in 40% of the cases.

The literature shows that playing and listening to music may modulate emotions, behaviors, movements, communication, and cognitive factors, modifying the activity of the brain areas involved in the perception and regulation of these aspects .

Music can produce substantial effects on movement-related symptoms as well as psychological ones in PD treatment. Concerning the first aspect, rhythm has a crucial role in rehabilitation, enhancing connections between the motor and auditory systems .

Literature showed how a rhythmic auditory cues-based training can produce a compensation of the cerebello-thalamo-cortical network leading to beneficial effects, for example, improving not only speed and step length but also perceptual and motor timing abilities .

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How Does Music Influence Our Brain

Music has a powerful impact on our emotional responses and mood. It can make us pleased, sorrowful, or agitated. Music also can help people with Parkinsons disease enhance their signs. Participants in one study reported fewer tremors, solidity, and freezing episodes when listening to slow-tempo melody rather than remaining silent. Some other studies discovered that patients with Parkinsons disease who participated in an eight-week music education class improved their motor control and self-esteem, depressed mood, anxiety, mental stress, life quality, and brain ability. Based on anecdotal evidence, numerous Parkinsons patients report feeling better because music allows them to move extra smoothly.

Why Is Music Therapy So Effective With Parkinsons Disease

The body and brain naturally respond to music and it is motivating. Therefore, music therapy often results in positive responses when other methods fail. Music is processed in both hemispheres of the brain, where different musical components activate different parts within the brain. When there is damage to the brain, music therapists can cross reference and re-access information, or retrain the brain by activating alternate neural pathways and engaging multiple parts of the brain. When a steady beat is involved it recruits motor neurons so that muscles work more effectively and accurately, and clients do not fatigue as fast or experience as much pain so can push harder, are not as sore, and do not need as much recovery time. Singing provides an outstanding way to strengthen the same muscles used for speech and swallowing. Studies have found that singing in music therapy sessions can decrease or delay problems with swallowing. It can also improve voice volume, clarity, range, and fullness all of which are often problems for people with Parkinsons.

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How Do I Know If Someone Is Qualified To Provide Music Therapy Services

  • Qualified music therapists carry the credential MT-BC indicating that they have passed the national, independent certification board exam and have maintained awareness of current practice through continuing education or retesting. Board certification status can be confirmed at:
  • Music therapists may carry the designation of NMT, which refers to a specific form of music therapy, Neurologic Music Therapy, that is based on the scientific method, is strongly evidence-based, and requires additional training. NMT Fellow indicates that the music therapist has successfully passed advanced training and peer review of NMT techniques. For the optimal benefit to clients with Parkinsons disease, they should work with music therapists who work within the NMT model.

American Parkinson Disease Association Minnesota Chapters grants now cover music therapy for people with PD! Contact Anushka Mohideen, Minnesota Information and Referral Coordinator at 651-241-8297 or with any questions. Click link below to download an application.

Benefits Of Singing For People With Parkinson’s

Music therapy helps people with Parkinson

There are physical benefits of singing to the general population as well as to those suffering from PD. It is considered exercise. It can improve your posture and breathing when using correct technique. Singing can strengthen your immune system and is a natural anti-depressant. It works by releasing chemicals, including endorphins, which can make you happy and reduce stress. Because singing is social, it can also help you improve your confidence and make friends.

Loss of vocal strength is a common side effect of Parkinsons. Some people experience difficulty with articulation, as their speech becomes slurred. Muscle and motor issues, like difficulty controlling tongue movement, could cause this. Others experience a decrease in vocal volume that could be influenced by poor breath support.5 Singing can help by reinforcing vocal enunciation and sustaining breath support. People can build strength through song.3,6

According to Elizabeth Stegemöller, an assistant professor of kinesiology at Iowa State University, singing uses the same muscle groups used for swallowing and breathing.

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Music Therapies For Parkinsons Disease

Music therapy, which utilizes rhythm, movement, voice and creativity to try to improve Parkinsons disease symptoms, are very popular for people with PD. Music-based therapies may work in a variety of ways to improve Parkinsons related challenges. The types of therapies that utilize the qualities of music are numerous and varied and it is hard to capture the full breadth of what is available.

A few types of music therapy:

All of these activities may have additional benefits including:

  • Providing avenues for socialization Working with others to perform a dance or a song offers the opportunity for socialization and collaboration.
  • Enhancing mood and/or cognitive function Some studies support the ability of music-based therapies to improve mood and cognition.

Where We See Improvements

Libby McDermott claims that playing piano has helped alleviate the stiffness in her hands. She says that she has always had trouble writing and typing due to Parkinsons. Playing piano helps her hand muscles loosen by pressing the pianos keys to a rhythmic beat.

Music therapy also helps clients with Parkinsons disease by restoring their balance. People with Parkinsons struggle to move side to side or stride with ease. Music therapy causes moving to become easier and more effortless.

Communication is a vital aspect of understanding one another. People that suffer from Parkinsons struggle to get their words out. With the help of singing, clients volume and articulation levels rise. It is also proven to help swallowing. Humming helps to relax vocal folds that may be tense or stretched.

Clients are encouraged to sing because it restores and improves issues with memory. Recall, recognition, and attention spans improve by using music-based cues.

Almost half of the adults in the United States struggle with some sort of mental disease. People with Parkinsons Disease are no different. Music therapy helps them express themselves. This alleviates anxiety, fatigue, depression, sleeping problems, and more. The increase in self-expression leads to self-discovery in people with Parkinson’s. Self-discovery fights against any unwanted feelings such as anxiety and depression.

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Harnessing The Power Of Music

A proud, black piano stands in my parents living room. Its the foundation of our home. From behind the sleek mahogany panels, fury, sadness, and happiness express themselves without judgment. My operatic brother sings his troubles away. My mom, a lifelong piano teacher, often alludes to the power of music because it isnt just a creative outlet. Its a mood-setter. It establishes rhythm and dance. Therapists use it to explore cognitive and emotional turmoil. And it also facilitates social change.

Powerful songs have always been the engine behind the greatest social movements it is the marching soundtrack that unites the people and gives them focus and resolve, and its not limited to the U.S., Barrett Martin writes in HuffPost. In 1970s Nigeria, Fela Kuti invented Afro Beat music as a way to protest the oil company regime of Nigeria. His song Zombie became a global hit that railed against Nigerias military dictators. In South Africa, the indigenous Mbatanga music helped bring about the end of apartheid and it spread a message of peace and reconciliation in that nation.

If music is powerful enough to inspire entire chapters of history, what else is it capable of doing?

How Can Music Therapy Help People With Parkinsons Disease

How Dancing Helps Parkinson’s patients

Music is used to promote healing all over the world. Music can be used as a form of therapy to help revive the sensory, fine, and gross motor skills in clients. There are many ways that music therapy can benefit someone with Parkinsons. According to the Parkinsons Foundation, it helps in a variety of ways. Music therapy can improve a client’s balance, communication, cognition, mental health, and social isolation.

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Dancing Helps Manage Depression

Dancing is one of the most potent ways to connect your mind and body. In recent years, dance-based therapy programs have been used to help improve symptoms of neurological disorders such as Parkinsons, dementia, and depression.

Fortunately for most of us, it doesnt matter how well you move, so long as youre trying to move with the beat. Dancing can take many forms seated, standing, arms-only, etc. However you choose to move, you will feel the benefits!

If you need some guidance, try this seated dancing warm-up from our Victory Summit® Omaha online event.

How Does Music Therapy Work

The therapy will be conducted by a music therapist at the hospital. Usually the therapy is done in groups and begins with a warm up before singing.

Therapy can be done with different materials in each place, but generally the patient will be asked to sing a song while reading the lyrics on a large screen or on paper that has been distributed.

The lyrics sung in the song also help improve memory skills, of course this also improves the cognitive ability of patients to digest and memorize new songs.

During music therapy, Parkinson’s patients will also practice using rhythms and melodies to train movement. The rhythm that is played will help the patient train the coordination of body movements,

Similar to gymnastics or dancing, the patient will be asked to move the body according to the beat of the song being played.

Parkinson’s patients often have difficulty concentrating and completing activities. Therefore, rhythm training is expected to increase the patient’s attention span.

Although it cannot cure Parkinson’s disease, it is still proven that music therapy can reduce the symptoms felt by patients. Through music therapy, patients are also given the means to socialize with other Parkinson’s patients.

However, you should not rely solely on one alternative method such as music therapy alone, trying a variety of other therapies might be better to help improve the quality of life for Parkinson’s patients.

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