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Updated: Oct 11, 2025
Author Spotlight: Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients With a Digital Occupational Training System
Published on: December 29, 2023
Music Upper Limb Therapy-Integrated Provides a Feasible Enriched Environment and Reduces Post-stroke Depression: A
Anna Palumbo1, Viswanath Aluru, Jessica Battaglia
1From the Rehabilitation Science Program, Department of Occupational Therapy (AP) and Nordoff Robbins Center for Music Therapy (AP, AT), NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York, New York; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, NYU Langone School of Medicine, New York, New York (VA, DG, CB, PR); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York (VA, JB, MR); Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York (DG); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, Florida (AC); Department of Population Health (GO) and Skirball Institute (LK, MVC, RCF), NYU Langone School of Medicine, New York, New York; and Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Department of Medicine (JKU) and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Neurology (PR), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Objective:
This study's aims were to refine Music Upper Limb Therapy-Integrated (MULT-I) to create a feasible enriched environment for stroke rehabilitation and compare its biologic and behavioral effects with that of a home exercise program (HEP).
Design:
This was a randomized mixed-methods study of 30 adults with post-stroke hemiparesis. Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and oxytocin levels measured biologic effects, and upper limb function, disability, quality of life, and emotional well-being were assessed as behavioral outcomes. Participant experiences were explored using semistructured interviews.
Results:
MULT-I participants showed reduced depression from preintervention to postintervention as compared with HEP participants. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels significantly increased for MULT-I participants but decreased for HEP participants, with a significant difference between groups after excluding those with post-stroke depression. MULT-I participants additionally improved quality of life and self-perceived physical strength, mobility, activity, participation, and recovery from preintervention to postintervention. HEP participants improved upper limb function. Qualitatively, MULT-I provided psychosocial support and enjoyment, whereas HEP supported self-management of rehabilitation.
Conclusions:
Implementation of a music-enriched environment is feasible, reduces post-stroke depression, and may enhance the neural environment for recovery via increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. Self-management of rehabilitation through an HEP may further improve upper limb function.
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