Special Issue 8 (2) 2016 “Dalcroze Eurhythmics in music therapy and special music education” – Article (published on 11 December 2016)
Dalcroze Eurhythmics-based music and movement training in transitional care brain injury patients: A feasibility study
Hyun Gu Kang, Veronica Velazquez, Shoko Hino & Emily R. Rosario
Abstract
Cognitive and motor impairments from brain injury are associated with sedentariness, falls and depression. We determined whether group-based multitask training based on Dalcroze Eurhythmics (DE) is a feasible tool to engage motor, cognitive, cardiovascular and affective function in individuals with a brain injury. Transitional care patients with traumatic brain injury or stroke were recruited from a rehabilitation hospital. The DE intervention took place for 50 minutes a day, twice a week, for 6 weeks, and included activities based on musical cues that required the use of memory, attention, coordination and balance. Typical DE activities were modified for this population. Affect, postural control, cognitive function and cardiovascular fitness were assessed before and after. Seven males aged from 23 to 71 completed the pre-test. Three used mobility aids. Six participated in the intervention, and three completed the post-test. Dropouts were due to transportation difficulty, concerns regarding medical insurance unrelated to the study, the lack of support from the staff and family, and the discomfort of being paired with another male for activities. In the three who completed the post-test, no measurable changes in function were found. A programme of longer duration may be needed to improve clinical outcomes. DE was a feasible intervention for a group of mixed physical function brain injury patients. This was facilitated with assistants to provide social variety. Adherence was high (67%). Participants responded well to the use of props and recorded music of their choosing.
Keywords
brain injury, cardiovascular, eurhythmics, cognitive function, clinical, feasibility, music therapy, transitional care
Biographies
Hyun Gu Kang* is an assistant professor of kinesiology at California State University San Marcos. His work on gait, postural control, and fall epidemiology has been published in biomechanics and clinical journals. He currently supervises fall prevention programmes at the university in collaboration with the San Marcos Senior Activities Centre. He holds a PhD in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at Austin.
Email: hkang@csusm.edu
Veronica Velazquez holds a Master of Science degree in kinesiology and is a licensed massage therapist. She teaches at Southern California University of Health Sciences.
Email: veronicavelazquez@scuhs.edu
Shoko Hino is a lecturer at California State University, San Marcos. She holds a license in Jaques-Dalcroze Eurhythmics from Longy School of Music and studied under Lisa Parker. She has taught Eurhythmics classes to children, adults, older adults, and brain injury patients. She is a pianist with a DMA from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, training under Robert Weirich.
Email: shino@csusm.edu
Emily R. Rosario is the director of the research institute at Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare. She is a neuroscientist and studies gait, falls and clinical outcomes in rehabilitation medicine. She holds a doctorate in neuroscience from the University of Southern California.
Email: erosario@casacolina.org