For almost 10 years, Chroma has been delivering Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) and Music Therapy (MT) to Stroke survivors.
Stroke, which is one of the most common types of acquired brain injury (ABI), can lead to sudden weakness, loss of sensation, or difficulty seeing, speaking or walking – depending on the part of the brain that is damaged. The surrounding area where the Stroke occurs predetermines the functions affected.
Providing NMT to Stroke patients alongside other rehabilitation modalities, such as physiotherapy, speech and language or occupational therapies, establishes significant improvements in the rate of recovery following a Stroke, as well as improvements in wellbeing & mood and across sensorimotor, psychosocial, speech and language, cognitive domains.
Implementing Neurologic Music Therapy has helped to (and continues to help) accelerate recovery, and help patients effectively manage the emotional demands of life immediately after a Stroke.
Chroma continues to work with stroke survivors in NHS and private clinical settings including Voyage Care, Sue Ryder and STEPS Rehabilitation. They have also undertaken pilot schemes on stroke wards including Charing Cross and the Stroke Rehabilitation Centre (SRC) at University Hospital Llandough (a part of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board) providing NMT as a rehabilitation technique, which has proven highly effective.
It is well documented that music therapy also helps improves mood, concentration, motor function and gait as well as patient engagement in rehabilitation. It is the brain’s automatic connection with music that establishes a therapeutic effect upon mental wellbeing. This plays a pivotal role in creating a positive mental space for stroke survivors to come to terms with their newfound condition and face the outlook of their diagnosis positively.
The use of music and instruments also supports stroke survivors to achieve their rehabilitation goals – to stretch or strengthen the affected body part(s), to re-learn speech, give more emotion to speech, or to incorporate breath support strategies, voice volume and pitch whilst singing songs that are important to the patient.
Neurologic Music Therapists use Rhythmic speech cueing to encourage greater use of speech and build upon cognitive ability using musical attention control training. For improving gait, musical pulse can be used to guide movements as well as help improve balance.
Once stroke survivors can see results for themselves, especially through the use of instruments, it increases engagement and motivation towards rehab. As NMT and MT can be tailored to an individual’s interests and likes, there can be greater motivation. Stroke survivors achieve an immediate response from the exercises through the sounds they create, which act as a vital motivation tool.
Chroma will continue to use NMT and MT alongside more established rehab therapies to establish significant improvements in the rate of recovery of stroke survivors and improve their quality of life.
