The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for the 'Art, Music, Dance' Category

Benefits of keyboard playing in people with cerebral palsy

Thursday, January 2nd, 2014

0Cerebral palsy results from injury to or abnormal development of the brain, with various problems in movement, posture, and other behavioral functions.

Researchers at the Graduate School of Education and Ewha Music Rehabilitation Center, in Seoul, Korea, studied the effects of Therapeutic Instrument Music Performance (TIMP) for fine motor exercises in adults with cerebral palsy.

(more…)

Results of nonpharmacological approaches to treating pain

Tuesday, January 1st, 2013

Researchers at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, in Chicago evaluated the effectiveness of an inpatient integrative medicine consult service for pain management. (more…)

Review of art therapies in dementia care

Thursday, September 13th, 2012

There’s lots of interest, but nobody ever reviewed the evidence before this.

Researchers at the College of the Holy Cross, in Worcester, Massachusetts, accepted the challenge. (more…)

Music to manage chronic pain

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

Treating chronic pain is challenging. Often, the reason for the pain isn’t clear and may require combinations of treatments before finding relief, if then.

Researchers at the Centre Mémoire de Ressources et de Recherches, in Paris, France assessed the usefulness of their music intervention to manage patients with chronic pain. (more…)

Music plus art therapy for dementia-related apathy

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Apathy is prevalent among patients with Alzheimer’s disease and is associated with greater morbidity and worse outcomes.

Researchers in Spain report that the music+art combination reduced apathy in patients with mild or moderate dementia. (more…)

Benefits of therapeutic music during radiotherapy

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

Therapeutic music is music with integrated RHS frequency of 60 beats/min.

During the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, researchers from Germany studied whether therapeutic music might lead to more correct positioning and the need for fewer verification films. (more…)

Does music benefit patients on a respirator?

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

This Cochrane review examined the effects of music on anxiety and physiological responses in mechanically ventilated patients. (more…)

CAM Archive: Singing by people with cystic fibrosis?

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

They are at risk for respiratory infections due to excessive mucus in their airways. Airway clearance is therefore an important part of cystic fibrosis management.

This Cochrane review analyzed the evidence. (more…)

Limits of CAM: Dyspnea in patients with COPD

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

Dyspnea (difficulty breathing) is a cardinal symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Its severity and magnitude increase as the disease progresses, leading to significant disability and a negative effect on quality of life.

Here are the Canadian Thoracic Society clinical practice guidelines, with emphasis on CAM. (more…)

First study of music therapy in organ transplant patients

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

Organ transplant recipients experience high levels of anxiety, pain, and nausea.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota, conducted the first study on the effects of music therapy on solid organ transplant patients. (more…)

Benefits of music therapy for cancer patients

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

Having cancer may result in emotional, physical, and social suffering. Music interventions have been used to alleviate symptoms and treatment side effects in cancer patients.

The authors of this Cochrane review report the response to music among cancer patients. (more…)

Sumarizing the mental health implications of music therapy

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

Researchers at Kaohsiung Medical University, in Taiwan reviewed the evidence related to music’s effect on people with different mental illnesses. (more…)

Music therapy for preterm infants and mothers

Monday, August 8th, 2011

Researchers at Meir Medical Center, in Kfar Saba, Israel, studied the response to live harp music therapy and kangaroo care in the neonatal intensive care unit. (more…)

Music therapy during an acute psychotic episode

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

It might be useful for some patients, say researchers at the University of Sydney, in Australia.

But which ones? (more…)

Reviewing the value of music in pediatric healthcare

Saturday, June 18th, 2011

Researchers at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, in Ontario, reviewed the evidence. (more…)

Theater to improve quality of life in Parkinson’s disease

Sunday, May 29th, 2011

Medical treatments of Parkinson’s disease are intended reduce motor symptoms, but many patients still report a deterioration of their daily lives.

Researchers at IRCCS Neuromed, in Pozzilli, Italy hypothesized that participation in theater might reduce clinical disability and improve quality of life. (more…)

Group music therapy for agitation in dementia

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

Researchers at Taipei Medical University, in Taiwan, explored the effectiveness of group music sessions to manage agitation in elderly persons with dementia. (more…)

Lowering blood pressure with music-guided slow breathing

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

Bradypnea (slow breathing) was studied by researchers at the University of Florence, in Italy. (more…)

Massage vs music therapy to relieve labor pain

Sunday, May 1st, 2011

During labor, women experience intense, stressful, and steady pain.

Researchers at Ilam University of Medical Sciences, in Iran compared 2 nonpharmacologic treatment options. (more…)

Dalcroze eurhythmics reduces falls in the elderly

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

Falls occur mainly while walking or performing concurrent tasks.

Researcher in Switzerland studied whether a music-based multitask exercise program (Dalcroze eurhythmics) improves gait and balance and reduces fall risk in elderly individuals. (more…)