The Effects of Therapeutic Instrumental Music Performance on Endurance Level, Self-Perceived Fatigue Level, and Self-Perceived Exertion of Inpatients in Physical Rehabilitation

Music therapy often works on interdisciplinary teams including occupational therapists and physical therapists.  In this study the researchers Lim, Miller, and Fabian wanted to use their study to see the effects of using Therapeutic Instrumental Music Performance (TIMP) as compared to Traditional Occupational Therapy (TOT) on endurance, self-perceived fatigue, as well as self-perceived exertion. The study was completed with 35 hospitalized patients in a rehabilitation unit that had a neurologic disorder and had recently completed orthopedic surgery. The researchers measured the effects of TIMP and TOT during upper extremity exercises. The results showed no significant difference between endurance with TIMP and TOT. However, there was a significant result in self-perception of fatigue and exertion between TIMP and TOT.  More of the participants said they felt less fatigue and less exertion during the TIMP exercises than the TOT exercises. This shows that TIMP can be for an effective sensory motor rehabilitation technique to help to decrease perceived exertion and perceived fatigue in patients within physical rehabilitation.

By Kylie Rodríguez, MM, MT-BC

Lim, et al. “Effects of Therapeutic Instrumental Music Performance on Endurance Level, Self-Perceived Fatigue Level, and Self-Perceived Exertion of Inpatients in Physical Rehabilitation.” OUP Academic, Oxford University Press, 1 July 2011, doi.org/10.1093/jmt/48.2.124.