Music Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease

Music Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease

By Sergio Hazard

Abstract

This paper presents the results of music therapy interventions with Parkinson’s patients at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service of the National Institute of Geriatrics in Santiago of Chile.

The paper offers the results of a music therapy intervention conducted between September and December 2006 at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service of the National Institute of Geriatrics President “Eduardo Frei Montalva” in Santiago, Chile. The intervention was conducted during clinical neurological rehabilitation of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease in this treatment center. The goal for the intervention was to contribute to the rehabilitation of the patients’ health in the areas of functionality, emotionality and sociability. The researchers applied a music therapy methodology called the Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation and receptive and active methods.

Some results noted by the intervention team report improvement on gait functionality and a decrease in the risk of falling, improvement of the mood disorders of patients (depression); and an increase in the motivation and willingness to face new tasks.

This paper represents a contribution to the general knowledge of music therapy in the field of Public Health in our country, making it possible to incorporate our discipline in the process of rehabilitation of geriatric patients with neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease.

http://www.voices.no/mainissues/mi40008000288.php

Hazard, Sergio (2008). Music Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy. http://www.voices.no/mainissues/mi40008000288.php