Music for Stroke Rehabilitation

Music interventions address multiple areas of stroke rehabilitation, including motor recovery, cognition, expressive language, emotional well-being, and social participation. Interventions have included music listening, rhythmic cues, playing musical instruments, Melodic Intonation Therapy, and singing. Several music intervention studies support functional recovery gains comparable to or greater than those achieved with conventional rehabilitation, but with the added benefit of enhancing mood. The neural mechanisms of music interventions continue to be investigated. Some studies have demonstrated increased functional gains associated with increased activation of affected brain areas, while other interventions engage the contralateral hemisphere. These different mechanisms may relate to the type and extent of impairment but indicate that music effectively promotes neural reorganization to support recovery. Finally, technological advances show promise for increasing accessibility and providing feedback during music interventions.