Music Therapy/Physical Therapy Intervention to Enhance Well-being and Functional Recovery Post-stroke

The purpose of the study is to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of an "enriched," combined music therapy/physical therapy (MT/PT) rehabilitation intervention that addresses physical, psychological, and social well-being simultaneously in a group setting to enhance post-stroke recovery. The intervention will be implemented through collaboration between the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy at NYU Steinhardt and the Motor Recovery Laboratory at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, NYU Medical Center.

Inclusion criteria

• Able to read and write in English
• Unilateral stroke at least 6 months prior
• Independent community ambulation with or without assistive devices
• Presence of at least 5 degrees of active motion in proximal and distal upper extremity joints, suggesting presence of a neural substrate for recovery

Exclusion criteria

• Neurological or psychiatric disease such as clinical depression
• Hearing deficits
• History of surgery or other significant injury that could preclude task performance
• Complicating medical problems such as uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes with signs of neuropathy, and previous neurological illness such as head trauma, prior stroke, epilepsy or demyelinating disease
• Any factors that may put the subject at significant risk or confound study results