A-Z List


Parkinson's

Goals & Methodology

Compiled by Megan Eckhardt - Fall 2006

Problems

-difficulty with the ability to recall previous information in the brain
-potential for problems in cognition- assessment needed
-endurance, strength, and range of motion
-impairment in ability to develop a movement plan- neurologically/physiologically
-irreversible, non-progressive condition
-brain damage
-loss of control over trunk, limb, and head movement to varying degrees
-abnormal gait, walking speed
-slowness of movement or rapid shuffle steps which may lead to falls
-poor balance
-rest tremor of a limb
-mobility is impaired
-voice becomes monotone and soft eventually

 

Goals

-improve/maintain cognitive, affective, and perceptual skills
-support/facilitate emotional processing of music in the brain
-stimulate movement through auditory rhythm cues
-endurance, strength, and range of motion
-develop healthy physiological/psychological responses to relaxing music
-facilitate changes in autonomic and central nervous function via music stimuli
-find alternate means of communication
-facilitate healthy gait patterns for patients with gait disorders
-facilitate the spatiotemporal organization of complex, sequential movements through rhythmic auditory cueing
-improve walking speed with RAS

 

Methods/Music Therapy Activities

-use of music as a background stimulus
-use of music to induce mood
-use of special songs can decrease the harshness of the disease for each individual
-use of familiar as well as new music and facilitate the motor responses
-measure changes in the electromyographic (EMG) patterns of the biceps and triceps…physiological data collected included: vascular constriction, heart rate, muscle tension, and finger skin temperature…this data revealed that the music aroused and excited instead of soothed muscular activity, indicating that people rely on their favorite music for excitement rather than for relaxation
-use of music to facilitate a movement plan which provides mechanisms for control in activities
-Blissymbolics…a method of communication based on common words, letters, and certain ideas represented by symbols…can be used to sing a song or in discussing lyrics
-rhythmic facilitation to enhance timing of gait movement helps velocity, cadence, and stride
-use of music to relieve tension and increase relaxation

 

Goals of my own for Music Therapy to go with each problem

-increase range of mobility
-facilitate/develop memory skills and recall of information from the past
-walk faster with steadiness or slow down gait and improve stability
-control tremors and movement of trunk, limb, and head
-build up endurance, strength, and range of motion
-relax muscles and relieve tension and stiffness
-straighten out back, work on posture
-speak louder and in different pitches
-bend and stretch limbs in directions that help stretch the muscles

 

My own ideas for methods that target the goals

-play music with words that allow a patient to reminisce and remember good/happy times
-use of music to stimulate movement which then improves endurance, strength, and range of motion
-sing songs at the piano to help with word recall and a monotone voice
-do stretching exercise with scarves to increase mobility of limbs
-have patient reach out to hit instruments…works on mobility
-steady tremors by having the patient play the harp