Music Therapy: How Music Aids in the Treatment for Parkinson's Disease
Iowa State University's encouragement for music therapy and Parkinson's disase
One of the more noteworthy efforts to use music therapy for Parkinson’s disease is at Iowa State University. Elizabeth Stegemoller, an assistant professor of kinesiology, holds music therapy classes for patients who have Parkinson’s disease. The patients are lead through vocalization exercises and singing. These two activities are shown to help with respiratory health and throat muscles. Stegemoller shows that the results of her classes greatly help with muscle activity. The main goal of Stegemoller is to help them with breathing and swallowing. Aside from breathing and swallowing, Stegemoller also wants to encourage proper posture since you need to stand up straight to sing well.
