The Effect of Music Listening in Rehabilitation of Subacute Stroke

The Effect of Music Listening in Rehabilitation of Subacute Stroke

Music listening has many positive effects on the brain. This study aims to find out if people with stroke get better results with their rehabilitation if they listen to music during their passive hours. The study is a randomized controlled trial with people who are at a rehabilitation center care after stroke at Tampere University Hospital. The control group gets standard rehabilitation. Music group gets standard rehabilitation and in addition they listen to music one hour a day during four weeks. Physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists test how well the participant's walking, use of hand and speech improve. The main goal is to find out if the improvement is better with music listening. The study also monitors effects of music listening on mood in rehabilitation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• hemispheric stroke (ischemic or intracerebral hemorrhage) during last 4 weeks OR spinal cord injury in last 6 months, causing a need of intensive rehabilitation

Exclusion Criteria:

• severe hearing loss preventing music listening
• previous condition of neurological disease of dementia that significantly affects daily functions
• active drug use or acute psychiatric condition
• unable to understand given information and give consent to participate
• for spinal cord injury patients: acute traumatic brain injury or stroke