Does Music Therapy Improve Gait after Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury? A Mini Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This research looks at how music therapy can help people with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) or spinal cord injuries (SCI) walk better. Walking, or gait, is a complex process involving sensory, cognitive, and motor functions, often disrupted by these injuries. Music therapy, specifically music therapy-based auditory stimulation (MT), has shown promise in improving movement disorders. The review examines multiple studies to evaluate MT's impact on gait outcomes in TBI and SCI patients. The study found that music therapy could be a useful method to improve walking in individuals with TBI and SCI. It works by providing external rhythmic cues, improving attention, and potentially modulating emotional responses, all of which facilitate better movement and coordination.

• 1
  MT shows positive effects on spatiotemporal aspects of gait in TBI, with medium effect improvements (Hedge’s g: 0.52).
• 2
  MT also demonstrates positive effects on spatiotemporal aspects of gait in SCI (Hedge’s g: 0.53).
• 3
  The meta-analysis concludes that MT has a positive impact on spatiotemporal parameters of gait in individuals with TBI and SCI.