The Effectiveness of Piano Therapy vs. Piano Listening on Manual Dexterity in the Elderly
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Healthy Studies |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 70 - Any |
| Updated: | 12/17/2017 |
| Start Date: | August 30, 2017 |
| End Date: | December 1, 2017 |
Active Versus Passive Piano Intervention for Dexterity in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Does active piano practice help recover hand dexterity in older adults, or does social
interaction and music-listening alone affect motor performance? Researchers hypothesized
improved dexterity after active piano playing, but not after passive piano listening. 15
residents of a retirement community were partnered together and completed 2 two-week piano
training modules. In module 1, one partner played piano exercises and songs while the other
listened. In module 2, partners switched roles. The Purdue Pegboard Test and Box and Block
Test assessed fine and gross motor dexterity, before, between, and after the training
modules. A repeated measures ANOVA showed a main effect of time on overall fine and gross
motor function, but there was no main effect of playing versus listening. Results did not
support the hypothesis, but indicate that piano-based therapy requires greater than 2 weeks
to begin improving dexterity and may influenced co-occurring socialization.
interaction and music-listening alone affect motor performance? Researchers hypothesized
improved dexterity after active piano playing, but not after passive piano listening. 15
residents of a retirement community were partnered together and completed 2 two-week piano
training modules. In module 1, one partner played piano exercises and songs while the other
listened. In module 2, partners switched roles. The Purdue Pegboard Test and Box and Block
Test assessed fine and gross motor dexterity, before, between, and after the training
modules. A repeated measures ANOVA showed a main effect of time on overall fine and gross
motor function, but there was no main effect of playing versus listening. Results did not
support the hypothesis, but indicate that piano-based therapy requires greater than 2 weeks
to begin improving dexterity and may influenced co-occurring socialization.
The primary finding of this study is that older adults demonstrate improvements in manual
dexterity after four weeks of piano training, but do not improve significantly after just two
weeks. Furthermore, it does not matter whether the participants actively play for the first
part and passively listen for the second part or vice versa.
Of the three proposed mechanisms of Music Supported Therapy (MST) explained in the
introduction, the findings of this study may be best explained by the emotion-motivation
mechanism. Though dexterity scores were organized by whether the scores followed an active
playing module, all participants experienced the same amount of music-listening and social
interaction. Whether the participant was playing the music him/herself or observing, both
groups were always hearing the same songs and scales for the same amount of time. The
emotion-motivation mechanism states that this music-listening alone may increase cognitive
processes like working memory and boost both mood and motivation. Therefore, these findings
may mean that listening to piano music helps dexterity performance in older adults; but it
does so if and only if the participants experience the music-listening module for a
sufficient duration of time.
Along with music-listening, social interaction was consistent between active and passive
groups throughout the study. This interpersonal interaction may also have had an effect on
mood and motivation, as piano instructors provided high levels of encouragement and
complimented the participants' progress often. Relationship quality between patient and
therapist is correlated with efficacy of therapy. This concept of increased socialization
contributing to dexterity improvements is also supported by a study that identified social
participation as a preventative factor of perceptual speed decline in older adults.
Not finding the hypothesized effect of active versus passive condition on dexterity could be
due to dexterous activities that the participants were engaged in outside of the training
modules. For example, three of the 15 participants reported that they currently play piano in
their free time, so it can be conjectured that those participants were engaged in active
piano playing even when they were in the passive listening module. Other activities enjoyed
by participants include exercise classes and painting—both of which could have been improving
or maintaining their dexterity throughout the study.
dexterity after four weeks of piano training, but do not improve significantly after just two
weeks. Furthermore, it does not matter whether the participants actively play for the first
part and passively listen for the second part or vice versa.
Of the three proposed mechanisms of Music Supported Therapy (MST) explained in the
introduction, the findings of this study may be best explained by the emotion-motivation
mechanism. Though dexterity scores were organized by whether the scores followed an active
playing module, all participants experienced the same amount of music-listening and social
interaction. Whether the participant was playing the music him/herself or observing, both
groups were always hearing the same songs and scales for the same amount of time. The
emotion-motivation mechanism states that this music-listening alone may increase cognitive
processes like working memory and boost both mood and motivation. Therefore, these findings
may mean that listening to piano music helps dexterity performance in older adults; but it
does so if and only if the participants experience the music-listening module for a
sufficient duration of time.
Along with music-listening, social interaction was consistent between active and passive
groups throughout the study. This interpersonal interaction may also have had an effect on
mood and motivation, as piano instructors provided high levels of encouragement and
complimented the participants' progress often. Relationship quality between patient and
therapist is correlated with efficacy of therapy. This concept of increased socialization
contributing to dexterity improvements is also supported by a study that identified social
participation as a preventative factor of perceptual speed decline in older adults.
Not finding the hypothesized effect of active versus passive condition on dexterity could be
due to dexterous activities that the participants were engaged in outside of the training
modules. For example, three of the 15 participants reported that they currently play piano in
their free time, so it can be conjectured that those participants were engaged in active
piano playing even when they were in the passive listening module. Other activities enjoyed
by participants include exercise classes and painting—both of which could have been improving
or maintaining their dexterity throughout the study.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Able to physically and cognitively withstand 30 minute piano training sessions
Exclusion Criteria:
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