Active Music Therapy in Parkinson's Disease: An Integrative Method for Motorand Emotional RehabilitationCLAUDIO PACCHETTI, MD, FRANCESCA MANCINI, MD, ROBERTO AGLIERI, CIRA FUNDAR O, MD, EMILIA MARTIGNONI, MD,AND GIUSEPPE NAPPI, MD Background: Modern management of Parkinson's disease (PD) aims to obtain symptom control, to reduce clinicaldisability, and to improve quality of life. Music acts as a specific stimulus to obtain motor and emotional responsesby combining movement and stimulation of different sensory pathways. We explored the efficacy of active musictherapy (MT) on motor and emotional functions in patients with PD. Methods: This prospective, randomized,controlled, single-blinded study lasted 3 months. It consisted of weekly sessions of MT and physical therapy (PT).Thirty-two patients with PD, all stable responders to levodopa and in Hoehn and Yahr stage 2 or 3, were randomlyassigned to two groups of 16 patients each. We assessed severity of PD with the Unified Parkinson's Disease RatingScale, emotional functions with the Happiness Measure, and quality of life using the Parkinson's Disease Qualityof Life Questionnaire. MT sessions consisted of choral singing, voice exercise, rhythmic and free body movements,and active music involving collective invention. PT sessions included a series of passive stretching exercises,specific motor tasks, and strategies to improve balance and gait. Results: MT had a significant overall effect onbradykinesia as measured by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (p ⬍ .034). Post–MT session findingswere consistent with motor improvement, especially in bradykinesia items (p ⬍ .0001). Over time, changes on theHappiness Measure confirmed a beneficial effect of MT on emotional functions (p ⬍ .0001). Improvements inactivities of daily living and in quality of life were also documented in the MT group (p ⬍ .0001). PT improvedrigidity (p ⬍ .0001). Conclusions: MT is effective on motor, affective, and behavioral functions. We propose activeMT as a new method for inclusion in PD rehabilitation programs. Key words: music therapy, Parkinson's disease,rehabilitation.