Posturographic Changes Associated with Music Listening

The Effects of Listening to Music on Postural Balance in Middle-Aged Women

Listening to music has been found to influence postural balance in both healthy participants and certain patients, whereas no study investigates such effects among healthy middle-aged women. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of music on postural balance in middle-aged women. Twenty-six healthy women aged between 50 and 55 years participated in this study. A stabilometric platform was used to assess their postural balance by recording the mean center of pressure velocity (VmCOP) in the eyes-opened (OE) and -closed (EC) conditions on both firm and foam surfaces. Our results showed that listening to an excerpt of Mozart's Jupiter significantly decreased the VmCOP values in two sensory conditions (firm surface/EO: (p < 0.01; 95% CI: 0.27 to 2.22); foam surface/EC: (p < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.48 to 2.44)), but not in the other two conditions (firm surface/EC and foam surface/EO). We concluded that listening to Mozart's symphony improved postural performance in middle-aged women, even in challenged postural conditions. These enhancements could offer great potential for everyday functioning.

The Influence of Listening to Preferred versus Non-Preferred Music on Static and Dynamic Balance in Middle-Aged Women

Although many women perform postural tasks while listening to music, no study has investigated whether preferred music has different effects than non-preferred music. Thus, this study aimed to explore the effects of listening to preferred versus non-preferred music on postural balance among middle-aged women. Twenty-four women aged between 50 and 55 years were recruited for this study. To assess their static balance, a stabilometric platform was used, recording the mean center of pressure velocity (CoPVm), whereas the timed up and go test (TUGT) was used to assess their dynamic balance. The results showed that listening to their preferred music significantly decreased their CoPVm values (in the firm-surface/eyes-open (EO) condition: (p < 0.05; 95% CI [-0.01, 2.17])). In contrast, when the women were listening to non-preferred music, their CoPVm values significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared to the no-music condition in all the postural conditions except for the firm-surface/EO condition. In conclusion, listening to music has unique effects on postural performance, and these effects depend on the genre of music. Listening to preferred music improved both static and dynamic balance in middle-aged women, whereas listening to non-preferred music negatively affected these performances, even in challenged postural conditions.

The Effect of Music on Balance Parameters

Objectives This study aimed to determine the effect of music on balance parameters in healthy individuals.

Methods Forty-two participants were included in the study, mean age=23.3 (SD=5.31). Prokin Tecnobody balance device was used for balance measurements. Static and dynamic balance measurements on the dominant foot and bipedal stance were recorded while listening to high-intensity music and without music.

Results In the study, there was a statistically significant difference in the dominant foot static mediolateral balance in measurements taken with music (p=0.013). But, there was no difference in other parameters (p>0.05). When examined by gender, it was found that the mediolateral balance scores of females on static and dynamic dominant feet were significantly higher in high-intensity music than males (p<0.05).

Conclusion In healthy participants, music improves the mediolateral balance on the dominant foot. Therefore, high-intensity music can be a safe and motivating method to be used in addition to clinical applications.

Effects of Music Listening on Postural Balance in Adolescents with Visual Impairment

We aimed to investigate the effect of music on visually impaired adolescents' postural balance across different somatosensory and vestibular input conditions. We recruited 19 adolescent participants (9 males, 10 females) with severe congenital visual impairment. We recorded their mean center of pressure velocity (CoP_Vm) during static upright bipedal standing under somatosensory (firm and foam surfaces) and vestibular (head facing forward (HFF), head rotated 90° to the right (HRR), and head rotated 90° to the left (HRL)) perturbations in three auditory conditions (no-music, listening to Jupiter, and listening to their preferred music). We found that CoP_Vm decreased significantly when listening to both Jupiter and preferred music, compared to the no-music condition on both firm (p < .05) and foam (p < .001) surfaces and with the HFF (p < .05), rotated to the right (p < .001) or rotated to the left (p < .001). Moreover, CoP_Vm values increased significantly with somatosensory manipulation (p < .001) in all the auditory conditions and with vestibular manipulation (p < .01) only in the no-music condition. We concluded that listening to both Jupiter and preferred music improved postural balance in visually impaired adolescents, even in challenged postural conditions.

Effects of Jaques-Dalcroze eurhythmics program on postural stability in elderly women

Decreased postural stability is observed in older adults. There is an increased risk of falls, which may lead to serious complications and death. Elderly people can maintain and even improve their postural stability through properly selected exercises. This study investigated the effect of exercise using the Emil Jaques–Dalcroze’s Eurhythmics (JDE) method on the postural stability of women over 65 years of age. The study model was based on a randomized controlled trial—parallel group design. Fifty-nine women (69.85 ± 3.29) were divided into two groups: intervention (IG, n = 26) and control (CG, n = 33). The IG subjects participated in a JDE exercise programme for 12 weeks, twice a week for 45 min each. Postural stability was determined using a test on the AMTI AccuSway Plus posturography platform, recording centre of pressure (COP) point displacement. A biofeedback model was used. Accuracy, speed and reaction time of movements were assessed. Two measurement sessions were conducted in both groups: 1 week before starting the exercise programme and immediately afterwards. After 12 weeks of exercise, subjects from IG scored significantly better in the test of accuracy (p < 0.05) and speed (p < 0.05) of movements. Additionally, for parameters determining accuracy of movements, an interaction between allocation to a group and a measurement session was shown (group × time). A 12-week exercise program using the JDE method improves the postural stability of women over 65 years of age by improving the parameters of speed and accuracy of torso movements.

When Musical Accompaniment Allows the Preferred Spatio-Temporal Pattern of Movement

A musical accompaniment is often used in movement coordination and stability exercise modalities, although considered obstructive for their fundament of preferred movement pace. This study examined if the rhythmic strength of musical excerpts used in movement coordination and exercise modalities allows the preferred spatio-temporal pattern of movement. Voluntary and spontaneous body sway (70 s) were tested (N=20 young women) in a non-musical (preferred) and two rhythmic strength (RS) musical conditions (Higher:HrRS, Lower:LrRS). The center of pressure trajectory was used for the body sway spatio-temporal characteristics (Kistler forceplate, 100 Hz). Statistics included paired t-tests between each musical condition and the non-musical one, as well as between musical conditions (p≤0.05). Results indicated no significant difference between the musical and the non-musical conditions (p>0.05). The HrRS differed significantly from LrRS only in the voluntary body sway, with increased sway duration (p=0.03), center of pressure path (p=0.04) and velocity (p=0.01). The findings provide evidence-based support for the rhythmic strength recommendations in movement coordination and stability exercise modalities. The HrRS to LrRS differences in voluntary body sway most possibly indicate that low-frequency musical features rather than just tempo and pulse clarity are also important.

Effects of music-based movement therapy on motor function, balance, gait, mental health, and quality of life for patients with Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic review evaluating the effects of music-based movement therapy on motor function, balance, gait, mental health, and quality of life among individuals with Parkinson's disease.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database was carried out to identify eligible papers published up to December 10, 2020.

REVIEW METHODS

Literature selection, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment were independently performed by two investigators. Publication bias was determined by funnel plot and Egger's regression test. "Trim and fill" analysis was performed to adjust any potential publication bias.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies involving 598 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Music-based movement therapy significantly improved motor function (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor subscale, MD = -5.44, P = 0.002; Timed Up and Go Test, MD = -1.02, P = 0.001), balance (Berg Balance Scale, MD = 2.02, P < 0.001; Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, MD = 2.95, P = 0.001), freezing of gait (MD = -2.35, P = 0.039), walking velocity (MD = 0.18, P < 0.001), and mental health (SMD = -0.38, P = 0.003). However, no significant effects were observed on gait cadence, stride length, and quality of life.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study show that music-based movement therapy is an effective treatment approach for improving motor function, balance, freezing of gait, walking velocity, and mental health for patients with Parkinson's disease.

Headphones or Speakers? An Exploratory Study of Their Effects on Spontaneous Body Movement to Rhythmic Music

Previous studies have shown that music may lead to spontaneous body movement, even when people try to stand still. But are spontaneous movement responses to music similar if the stimuli are presented using headphones or speakers? This article presents results from an exploratory study in which 35 participants listened to rhythmic stimuli while standing in a neutral position. The six different stimuli were 45 s each and ranged from a simple pulse to excerpts from electronic dance music (EDM). Each participant listened to all the stimuli using both headphones and speakers. An optical motion capture system was used to calculate their quantity of motion, and a set of questionnaires collected data about music preferences, listening habits, and the experimental sessions. The results show that the participants on average moved more when listening through headphones. The headphones condition was also reported as being more tiresome by the participants. Correlations between participants' demographics, listening habits, and self-reported body motion were observed in both listening conditions. We conclude that the playback method impacts the level of body motion observed when people are listening to music. This should be taken into account when designing embodied music cognition studies.

Unravelling Functional Neurology: an overview of all published documents by FR Carrick, including a critical review of research articles on its effect or benefit

Background

Functional Neurology (FN), founded by FR Carrick, is an approach used by some chiropractors to treat a multitude of conditions via the nervous system including the brain. However, it seems to lack easily obtainable scientific evidence for its clinical validity.

Objectives

1) To define the topics of FR Carrick’s publications, 2) to define the proportion of articles that are research studies, case studies, abstracts and conference papers, 3) to define how many of these are clinical research studies that purported or appeared to deal with the effect or benefit of FN, 4) in these studies, to establish whether the design and overall study method were suitable for research into the effect or benefit of FN, and 5) to describe the evidence available in relation to the clinical effect or benefit of FN, taking into account seven minimal methodological criteria.

Method

A literature search was done on Pubmed from its inception till October 2018, supplemented by a search on Scopus and ResearchGate to find all published documents by FR Carrick. We identified their types and topics, retaining for a critical review full text scientific articles appearing to test effect/benefit of FN procedures, subjecting them to a basic quality assessment (scoring 0–7). Results from studies of methodologically acceptable standard would be taken into account.

Results

We found 121 published texts, 39 of which were full scientific research articles. Of these, 23 dealt with topics relating to FN. Fourteen articles reported on clinical validity but only seven included a control group. The methodological quality of these seven articles was low, ranging between 1.5–4 out of 7. We therefore did not further report the outcomes of these studies.

Conclusion

We found no acceptable evidence in favour of effect/benefit of the FN approach. We therefore do not recommend its promotion as an evidence-based method. Further research on this topic should be conducted in collaboration with independent scientific institutions using commonly accepted research methods.

Trial registration

PROSPERO This review was registered in PROSPERO (application date 23.02.2019; no CRD42019126345).

Unravelling functional neurology: a scoping review of theories and clinical applications in a context of chiropractic manual therapy

BACKGROUND

Functional Neurology (FN), a seemingly attractive treatment approach used by some chiropractors, proposes to have an effect on a multitude of conditions but some of its concepts are controversial.

OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN

A scoping review was performed to describe, in the context of chiropractic manual therapy, 1) the FN theories, and 2) its clinical applications (i.e. its indications, examination procedures, treatment modalities, treatment plans, and clinical outcomes) using four sources: i) one key textbook, ii) the scientific peer-reviewed literature, iii) websites from chiropractors using FN, and iv) semi-structured interviews of chiropractors using FN.

METHODS

The scientific literature was searched in PubMed, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus, completed by a hand search in the journal Functional Neurology, Rehabilitation and Ergonomics (November 2016 and March 2017, respectively). The only textbook on the topic we found was included and articles were chosen if they had an element of manual therapy. There was no restriction for study design but discussion papers were excluded. Websites were found in Google using the search term "Functional Neurology". Chiropractors, known to use FN, were invited based on their geographical location. Theories were mainly uncovered in the textbook as were all aspects of the clinical applications except treatment plans. The other three sources were used for the five aspects of clinical applications. Results were summarized and reported extensively in tables.

RESULTS

Eleven articles were included, five websites scrutinized, and four semi-structured interviews performed. FN is based on the belief that reversible lesions in the nervous system are the cause of a multitude of conditions and that specific clusters of neurons can be positively affected by manipulative therapy, but also by many other stimuli. Diagnostic procedures include both conventional and unusual tests, with an interpretation specific to FN. Initial treatment is intense and clinical outcomes reported as positive.

CONCLUSION

FN gives the impression to be a complex alternative to the old variant of the chiropractic subluxation model, in which the vertebral subluxation is replaced by "physiological lesions" of the brain, and the treatment, spinal adjustments, are complemented by various neurological stimuli. Both models purport to treat not the symptoms but the cause. We conclude there is a need for more scientific documentation on the validity of FN.

Vestibular findings in military band musicians

Introduction Exposure to music is the subject of many studies because it is related to an individual's professional and social activities. Objectives Evaluate the vestibular behavior in military band musicians. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed. Nineteen musicians with ages ranging from 21 to 46 years were evaluated (average = 33.7 years and standard deviation = 7.2 years). They underwent anamnesis and vestibular and otolaryngologic evaluation through vectoelectronystagmography. Results The most evident otoneurologic symptoms in the anamnesis were tinnitus (84.2%), hearing difficulties (47.3%), dizziness (36.8%), headache (26.3%), intolerance to intense sounds (21.0%), and earache (15.7%). Seven musicians (37.0%) showed vestibular abnormality, which occurred in the caloric test. The abnormality was more prevalent in the peripheral vestibular system, and there was a predominance of irritative peripheral vestibular disorders. Conclusion The alteration in vestibular exam occurred in the caloric test (37.0%). There were changes in the prevalence of peripheral vestibular system with a predominance of irritative vestibular dysfunction. Dizziness was the most significant symptom for the vestibular test in correlation with neurotologic symptoms. The present study made it possible to verify the importance of the labyrinthine test, which demonstrates that this population should be better studied because the systematic exposure to high sound pressure levels may cause major vestibular alterations.