Patterned Sensory Enhancement-Based Interventions in Acute Rehab

A Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT) technique, Patterned Sensory Enhancement (PSE), can be utilized to address upper extremity function in patients who suffer from brain injuries, such as stroke or cerebral palsy. By engaging in repetitive exercises and increasing the use of the affect area of the upper extremity, the brain develops a change in neural pathways that helps recover the use of limbs by these patients. Through the therapeutic use of music and rhythm as a driving force to facilitate better movement quality, the auditory cues in the music help facilitate movement exercises that are not rhythmic in nature, which in turn improve strength, endurance, balance and posture of the patient participating in recurring sessions involving PSE. The goal of this study was to design, develop and facilitate movement exercises and facilitating music for an intervention based on the knowledge of PSE to target both upper and lower extremities of patients hospitalized in an acute rehab setting.