Background: Neurologic music therapy has demonstrated improved walking performance in persons with neurologic disease; however, little evidence supports the use of music with functional resistance exercise to improve motor capacity and daily functions for children with cerebral palsy.
Objective: To investigate the effect of additional patterned sensory enhancement (PSE) music combined with exercise for children with spastic diplegia.
Methods: An assessor-blind, randomized controlled trial with 6- and 12-week follow-ups was carried out. Thirty-six children with spastic diplegia, aged 5 to 13 years, were assigned to a PSE group (n = 18) or a no-music group (n = 18). Both groups received 6-week, home-based, loaded sit-to-stand exercise, but only the PSE group exercised with prerecorded PSE music. The primary outcome was Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). Secondary outcomes included Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) mobility and self-care domains, 1-repetition maximum of sit-to-stand, and walking speeds.
Results: Three children did not complete the program. Intention-to-treat analysis showed both groups improved in GMFM D, E, and Goal dimensions; Functional Skills Scales of PEDI mobility domain; and 1-repetition maximum of sit-to-stand at posttest and follow-ups (P ≤ .005). The PSE group improved significantly greater than the no-music group in the GMFM D and Goal dimensions (P < .005) after training, and the improvement persisted for at least 6 or 12 weeks (P ≤ .013). No significant improvements in the rest PEDI scales and walking speeds were found.
Conclusions: Adding neurologic music therapy to functional resistance exercise could induce greater improvements in gross motor capacity for children with cerebral palsy.
Keywords: acoustic stimulation; cerebral palsy; music therapy; randomized controlled trial; rehabilitation; resistance training.