engleski

Can music help in stroke recovery?

After a stroke occurred, one third of the patients remain severely disabled. Unfortunately, acute stroke therapy is of limited value, great hope is put in rehabilitation of stroke victims. This hope for successful rehabilitation lies in novel findings of the brain plasticity, the mechanism of the human brain to adapt to environmental changes ; after stroke neural pathways reorganize due to new experiences. In this process well known is the role of physical therapy. Based on historical experiences started from the ancient Greece and Rome, as well on modern studies using sophisticated technical equipment, music has significant role in human well being and healing processes. Many studies have shown number of diseases where listening or producing music had positive effect on the recovery. Stroke affects person's motor functions, speech, cognitive functions and mood. Music therapy positively influences the recovery of these functions. Listening to rhythmic melody enhances recovery of walking and normal gait. Listening to songs and singing along helps aphasic patients to learn to speak faster than by usual verbal techniques. Several studies with their results have shown that regular listening to music significantly improves cognitive function and mood in stroke patients. Music should be introduced in every day clinical practice in early phase of stroke treatment and in rehabilitation period. During rehabilitation, patients spend in exercises only several hours a day, the rest of the time is spent in nonstimulating environment. Music therapy can be used longer during the day, offering patients valuable stimuli for brain plasticity processes.

music; recovery; stroke; music therapy

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