Effects of band therapy using music on grasping power, depression and personal relationships in nursing-home-dwelling elderly individuals

Abstract

The current study examined the effects of band therapy using music on grasping power, depression, and personal relationships among residents of a nursing home. Thirty subjects participated in the study. The band therapy included greetings, warm-up exercises with music, singing with dance, playing instruments, closing speech, and stretching with background music. Band therapy was held for 40 minutes once per week, for a total of four sessions, in the activity room of the nursing home. Findings showed that grasping power, depression, and personal relationships were improved at posttest, but the differences were not statistically significant. A better study design to compare the effects of band therapy with the other group, and a more simple and repeated intervention for the elderly to follow without stress might be necessary.