Examining the Efficacy of Music-applied Therapies on the Upper Extremity of Post-stroke Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide, due to an interruption of blood flow to the brain, which results in necrotic cell death. This pathological cascade has ramifications in neurological motor, sensory, and behavior deficits. Recent research has used a therapeutic application of music as a vehicle to improve motor function of post-stroke patients. Music-supported therapy is a newer class of music therapy that works to improve motor function through a standardized program of keyboard and drum exercises, and it is continuing to be integrated into the field of rehabilitation. This study aims to search areas of music-based interventions, such as music-supported therapy (MST) and patterned sensory enhancement (PSE). A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the effect of music-based interventions on rehabilitating the upper extremity of post-stroke patients. Comprehensive literature searches of multiple websites from their inception to November 2023 were performed. A total of 8 studies (10 analyses, 261 participants) were included, and all had acceptable quality according to the PEDro scale. Motor function outcome measures were used to evaluate the results of the intervention and were taken both before and following the intervention. The studies underwent sub-analyses using a standard mean difference in the change from baseline and the 95% confidence interval (CI) for analysis. Two motor function outcomes, the Box and Block Test and the Nine-Hole Peg Test, were statistically significant. The results of this study indicated a positive effect of music-applied therapies, supporting the further incorporation of integrative therapies in stroke-related rehabilitative care.