Music therapy improves walking after a stroke through auditory-motor entrainment
This study found walking was markedly improved through the use of music after a stroke. The principle is that musical sounds entrain movement through the auditory system (a core element of Neurologic Music Therapy). Aural cues from music can correct neuromotor defecits causing gait asymmetries. The participants needed only 30 minutes of music to see results.
Plainly, auditory-motor entrainment is why people can effortlessly synchronize their movements (ie, entrain) to the beat of an external rhythm. (Collimore, et al., 2023).
In this case, the researchers created a wearable device that plays music and senses movement, and adjusts the music accordingly for optimal progress.
This study also found that patients could walk with less effort after music was used to streamline their gait.
Sarah Grey is a Neurologic Music Therapist offering music therapy sessions at her practice Sound Effect Music Therapy in Fyshwick, Canberra, ACT.
Collimore, A. N., Roto Cataldo, A. V., Aiello, A. J., Sloutsky, R., Hutchinson, K. J., Harris, B., Ellis, T., & Awad, L. N. (2023). Autonomous Control of Music to Retrain Walking After Stroke. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 37(5), 255–265. https://doi.org/10.1177/15459683231174223
