COMMUNITY-BASED GROUP DRUMMING LED BY A PHYSICAL THERAPIST FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PARKINSON DISEASE

J. Lanoire¹, E. Ulanowski², M. Danzl²

Background: Musical drumming is a promising intervention to improve cognition, reaction time, anxiety, and depression in individuals with Parkinson disease (PD). Little is known, however, about the role for group drumming in PD community-based rehabilitation aimed at improving movement.

Purpose: The purpose of this special interest report is to address a unique development in practice, specifically the role for therapeutic group drumming for individuals with PD.

Methods: This report includes a narrative literature review and description of the implementation of therapeutic drumming into a community-based PD wellness retreat program. A narrative literature review was completed in 2 databases (PubMed, CINAHL) using specific keywords (e.g., drum, physical therapy, exercise, music). To further explore the role and feasibility of drumming in PD rehabilitation, 2 group drumming sessions were incorporated within a 2-day community-based wellness program for 34-40 individuals with PD. Each participant had a drum or percussion instrument. Activities were led by a physical therapist (with 6-8 additional volunteers) and included guided imagery, beat passing between groups, emotional expression through drums, rhythmic learning, positive affirmations, and organizational sounds.

Results: From the narrative literature search, only 2 articles were identified that examined PD and drumming. Key intervention features described included group sessions and the integration of various amplitudes, tempos, and expressions. Anecdotally, retreat participants were highly engaged during drumming. Activities were easily modified based on participants’ specific deficits. Based on immediate in-person feedback and a post-retreat satisfaction survey, participants reported a desire to continue community-based drumming due to enjoyment of the activity, incorporating music as a means of exercise for PD, and the social interaction benefits.

Conclusion(s): Drumming, depending on the type of drum, can be fairly inexpensive and an easily modified activity with potential translation to various clinical and community environments with few resources. As a therapeutic intervention, community-based drumming is potentially beneficial for individuals with PD as an alternative to traditional exercise throughout their PD journey. This report provides the foundation for early design and key components to implement into practice for community-based programs and future research. Structuring the drumming session with an expression component and rhythmic entrainment exercise to promote motor and psychological improvements needs to be explored in future programs.

Implications: This report explores therapeutic group drumming for individuals with PD, a unique development for clinical practice consideration. One size does not fit all when it comes to engaging individuals with PD in community exercise. Alternative treatment strategies such as drumming may further promote engagement during exercise. This work is a springboard resource for others who are seeking foundational components to develop similar community-based drumming sessions, including expressive and rhythmic interventions, tailored toward individuals with PD.

Funding, acknowledgements: Funding was not requested for this work.

Keywords: musical, Parkinson's disease

Topic: Community based rehabilitation

Did this work require ethics approval? No

Institution: Bellarmine University

Committee: Institutional Review Board

Reason: This work reflects a narrative review and describes a unique development in practice.