Scoping review of music therapy and music interventions in spinal cord injury

Abstract

Purpose

Spinal cord injury (SCI) has lifelong implications requiring treatment for outcomes including respiratory function, voice, pain, mood, and gait, among others. Music therapy (MT) and music-based interventions may be useful in the treatment of several outcomes. This review describes the use of MT and music-based interventions in individuals with SCI for rehabilitation and health and highlights future research priorities.

Materials and methods

MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL, RILM, Music Periodicals and Music Index were searched. Search terms included: SCI and music. Studies of cohorts with SCI using music interventions and descriptions of adapted instruments or development of MT programs were included. Abstracts and full texts were reviewed in duplicate. Data were extracted according to clinical outcomes. A structured synthesis was performed.

Results

Forty-three studies were included. Research in the field includes quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods studies. Group singing and an individual songwriting program for self-concept were the most studied interventions. Outcomes varied; mood outcomes were most common.

Conclusion

While qualitative data support the use of MT and music-based interventions in this population for a wide variety of outcomes, randomized controlled trials are needed. There is a lack of research on the use of individual MT in this population. Registration: osf.io/9m8v4

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) often suffer from injury complications and significant medical morbidity requiring practical long-term treatment and wellness strategies.

• Music therapy (MT) and music-based interventions can be used for many rehabilitation and health goals in this population including mood, gait and respiratory function, among others.

• Preliminary qualitative and quantitative studies have reported the benefits of MT across a range of outcomes in individuals with SCI; however, additional research, especially evaluating individual MT interventions, is needed.

Keywords:

• Spinal cord injuries
• music therapy
• music
• gait
• quality of life

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the help of Lorraine Toews and Diane Lorenzetti, health sciences librarians, and Marc Stoeckle, music librarian, for providing their expertise in the development of the search strategy for this review.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. We have no funding to disclose.