Music Therapy Improves Quality Of Life For Parkinson’s Patients
A thesis defended by Maria Luisa Sanchez at the Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (in Spain) shows that music therapy improves the quality of life for Parkinson’s patients. The study called “Music therapy in Parkinson’s disease shows that music can benefit the cognitive and emotional motor functions in those who suffer from this disease, bringing them a fuller life.
Music therapy improves quality of life for Parkinson’s patients
This new thesis is based on the observation of people with Parkinson’s and how they have advanced in their rehabilitation thanks to music. The doctoral candidate says “there are few studies dedicated to music therapy for Parkinson’s, which is why our small contribution may be quite significant”.
Body language, signing, musical improvisation, etc were all trained with this therapy. For these sessions of music therapy, the patient doesn’t need to have any musical experience. Anyone is able to participate and make music.
How music therapy improves quality of life for Parkinson’s patients
Music therapy sees the person as both body and mind that is continuously influenced by the environment. This is why the therapy is focused on the needs of the patient on physical, cognitive, emotional, and social levels. All of the exercises that are done during therapy work to influence all of these aspects simultaneously. For example, singing trains attention and memory, exercising breaking, articulation, and improving social skills.
Because music facilitates music, people with Parkinson’s can also benefit from this therapy to help with mobility issues. Following a rhythm requires planning and includes sequences of long, complex movements which everyone has to follow together. Aside from training rhythm, music therapy can also help to develop improvisation, creativity, and body expression.
Being able to express oneself is very important for Parkinson’s patients, because they find it easier to reflect on their feelings about the disease. Music is a non-verbal expression which is helpful for people who have communication problems. Music therapy mainly works by keeping these people from being isolated in society. With this therapy, they are able to have social relationships and be a part of society, which keeps them from developing disorders derived from Parkinson’s, like depression or anxiety.
In summary, music therapy help very helpful for Parkinson’s patients, because it helps to train motor skills, and it also gives them a chance to express themselves and create social relationships which helps their mental and physical state.
