Music Therapy for Parkinson's

0 Comments | Family Practice News, August 15, 2000

Active music therapy consisting of improvised singing and playing musical instruments improved motor and emotional function in patients with Parkinson's disease.

In a randomized study of two groups of 16 patients each, those receiving music therapy in weekly sessions over a 3-month period achieved better results than those receiving physical therapy Music therapy led to significant improvements in bradykinesia, performance of activities of daily living, emotional well-being, and quality of life. Physical therapy achieved significant results only in rigidity.

The improvements with music therapy lasted the duration of the 3-month treatment period but were not evident at 2 month follow-up (Psychosom. Med. 62[3]:386-93, 2000).

"Patients participating in music therapy sessions displayed a considerable improvement in quality of life ... despite no change in parkinsonian and systemic functioning," said Dr. Claudio Pacchetti and his colleagues at the University of Pavia (Italy).