Using musical instruments to improve motor skill recovery following a stroke is not a new subject. When the brain tissue does not get an adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients from the blood, the brain cells begin to die, a stroke becomes inevitable. Simply put, a stroke can only happen when there is an interruption or reduction in the blood supplies to the brain. Prompt treatment becomes a necessity as the situation is an emergency.
Symptoms of Stroke
Some of the following are the signs and symptoms of someone having a stroke:
Difficulty with speaking and comprehension: Someone may be having a stroke if the person has problems with basic communication. If they can’t understand simple things you say, it most likely the person has a stroke.
Problems with vision: If one or both eyes suddenly have their vision blurred or darkened. Also, if the person is seeing double, it is most likely a stroke situation.
Loss of coordination: Another sign or symptom could be having sudden dizziness, having trouble walking, losing balance and control.
Paralysis: When there is paralysis or some form of numbness with the face, arms or legs, pay attention. Often times, it affects just one side of the body. They may have a side of the mouth drooping when they try to smile.
What To Do
With every sense of urgency, you have to act FAST.
Face: You ask the person to smile and watch out if a part of the face droops.
Arm: Tell the person to raise both arms, and check if he/she can raise both arms without help.
Speech: Check for strange or slurred speech. Also, you can ask them to repeat simple phrases
Time: If you observe any of the following, call for immediate medical help.
Read: Noteworthy Benefits Of Playing A Musical Instrument
Using musical instruments to improve motor skill recovery following a stroke
When a person has a stroke, they lose control of their motor skill and others. Motor skill is very important as humans. Hence, the need to improve motor skill after a stroke becomes necessity.
Stroke is a type of disease that affects proper coordination. It majorly affects motor skill which is a vital part of everyday living. There is a great need for rehabilitation after a stroke. One of the most common ways to get disability today in the world is through a stroke. Rehabilitation is a necessity because it will help to put back in place the coordination of the victim.
Does Using Musical Instruments Improve Motor Skill?
There are many ways to improve motor skill recovery after a stroke. Using musical instruments to improve motor skill recovery following a stroke is one fun way. This article will focus on this method of motor skill recovery. We are going to be sharing our own knowledge in that regard.
There are a lot of musical instruments that can serve as a therapeutic means for improving the coordination of the hands and motor skill in general. Although most musical instruments focus on improving the fine motor skill of the individual involved, the gross motor skill can be enhanced with musical instruments too.
However, this type of physical therapy treatment is not as easy as it sounds. This is simply because the impairment caused by a stroke can run deeply into the part of the brain that brings about sensation. The need for sensation is high when it concerns motor recovery according to studies carried out by Yekutiel. Almost half of the victims of stroke go through excessive pain in the upper arm. Others do not feel any sensation whatsoever.
Using musical instruments to recover from a stroke is arguably a highly documented way of rehabilitation because it takes a whole lot more than that to recover.
Read: Amazing Benefits Of Listening To Music
Music Therapy Improves Motor Skill
Caregivers make use of music therapy (NMT) to target the improvement of the cognitive, sensory and motor function in patients dealing with neurological stroke. The therapeutic application of music has also been argued to be a good way to help post-stroke patients.
The treatment involves passive music supported therapy and this is connected to auditory-motor synchronization. All this is attributed to motivation for the patients to try rhythmic movements. Also, the use of musical instruments which is a part of active support music therapy has a form that trains the individual for fine and gross movements.
For a patient that can’t move the upper arm or feel so much pain in the upper arm, the movement of the fingers may also be a problem. However, enforced physical therapy using keyboards, MIDI-piano, electronic drum pads, and others can also be a way to wake the dormant cells.
Wrap Up
Based on a series of unfounded arguments about using musical instruments to improve motor skill recovery following a stroke, you may begin to wonder how smooth the rehabilitation process goes.
It is noteworthy to say quite a number of patients have improved significantly. This is with respect to their speed, precision, and smoothness of movement with the aid of music therapy. Also, motor control in their daily activities had a significant improvement.
We can say that using musical instruments to improve motor skill recovery is an effective approach in the treatment of stroke patients.