Moving To Music Therapy
Music and moving go together like peanut butter and jelly (except for those with allergies). We walk to music. We exercise to music. We even play imaginary guitars to music. However, when applied to a medical need moving to music therapy may provide even more.
“Music isn’t just to feel good, ease anxiety or help depression — it has the capability to rewire the brain on a scientific level,” Morris said. “If you were wearing heels and if I were walking next to you and I hear the click, click, click — if I have a normal gait pattern I would move along with the clicks.
”The Center’s patent-pending biomedical technology tracks specific rhythms and patients’ responses to each individual musical piece. Although the technology isn’t completely ironed out, it’s tested with every patient. Shankman said she hopes it will one day help other people no matter their location or resources.
Morris said because our brains are rhythmically intrinsic, music therapy can become a crucial part to a patient’s recovery. She said music therapy is typically done in group sessions, but this project differs in that the music is made specifically for the patient and their own problems with movement to narrow in on each individual’s personal connection to rhythm.
“By giving them very clear rhythmic beats through music, you’re giving the brain different things to cling to in order to help recreate those gait patterns that have been damaged by their disease or brain injury,” Morris said.
Morris said the project is important because it not only gives patients more options and resources of treatment, but the results it produces can be a useful tool for music therapists in the future.
“There are only about 6,000 board certified musical therapists in the U.S., but there are millions of people with Parkinson’s,” Morris said. “We just want patients to be able to have options when it comes to treatment.
Source: Austin’s Center for Music Therapy helps those who can not walk, one note at a time | The Daily Texan
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