The Effects of a Movement-to-Music (M2M) Intervention on Physical and Psychosocial Outcomes in People Poststroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a 12-week movement-to-music (M2M) intervention on physical and psychosocial outcomes in people poststroke. DESIGN: Two-arm randomized controlled trial. SETTING: A community-based fitness facility. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (N=47) with stroke between 18 and 65 years old were randomized to M2M (n=23) or waitlist control (n=24). INTERVENTIONS: Participants in M2M completed 3 60-minute exercise sessions per week for 12 weeks. Controls received biweekly educational newsletters via mail. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes included Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT, in meters), Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST, in seconds) and Timed Up and Go (TUG, in seconds). Secondary outcomes were self-reported measures using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Fatigue and Pain Interference Short Form 8a. Outcomes were collected at baseline and postintervention. Analyses involved descriptive statistics and adjusted linear mixed models. RESULTS: Mixed models adjusted for the respective baseline values and demographic variables showed that M2M participants had longer 6MWT distance (least square mean difference [LSM], 14.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], −12.9 to 42.0), more FTSST time (LSM, 2.0; 95% CI, −4.5 to 8.5), and less fatigue (LSM, −3.0; 95% CI, −7.2 to 1.2) compared with controls postintervention. When controlling for baseline TUG and demographic variables, there was a larger increase in 6MWT distance (LSM, 37.9; 95% CI, −22.7 to 98.6), lower FTSST time (LSM, −6.1; 95% CI, −18.5 to 6.2), and decrease in fatigue (LSM, −6.5; 95% CI, −13.1 to 0.2) in the M2M group compared with controls. Moderate effect sizes were observed for improving 6MWT (d=0.6), FTSST (d=−0.6), and fatigue (d=−0.6). There was no group difference in change in TUG time and pain interference, with trivial effect sizes (d=−0.1). CONCLUSION: M2M may be a valuable exercise form for adults with stroke. Future studies are needed to determine optimal exercise doses for improving health and function in this population.