How may patients with MS benefit from using music assisted therapy? A case-control feasability study investigating motor outcomes and beyond.

Abstract

Motor impairment is the most common symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS), as gait and balance dysfunction are reported in more than 85% of the patients, with considerable consequences on the patient's activities of daily living and psychological status. This study aimed at evaluating the feasibility and potential efficacy of a novel treatment involving music plus treadmill in patients with MS. Ten patients affected by secondary progressive MS were submitted to a specific training using the Gait Trainer (GT) 3, a platform that integrates gait training via a treadmill and rhythmic auditory stimulation. The 30 minutes training was performed three times per week for eight weeks (24 sessions in total). The enrolled patients were compared with a control group (CG) of 10 patients with MS matched for age, gender, disease duration, and EDSS stage. The CG received the same amount of treatment, but using conventional overground gait training. All patients completed the training without reporting any side effects. At the end of the training, CG improved in static and dynamic balance and in mood. Instead, in the EG a significant improvement in static and dynamic balance, walking speed, and mobility, as well as in mood, and perception of quality of life (QoL), both for physical and mental well-being, was found. This exploratory study suggests that GT3 might be a feasible and potentially useful approach for MS gait rehabilitation, thanks to patients’ high motivation and good acceptance of the music assisted therapy.