A qualitative exploration of music therapy and physical therapy co-treatment: Joining forces to treat individuals with late-stage Huntington's disease

Abstract

Background

There is no research exploring music therapy and physical therapy co-treatment in Huntington's disease (HD).

Purpose

This qualitative descriptive study describes a music therapy and physical therapy co-treatment approach for individuals with late stage HD.

Method

Ten individuals in a long-term care facility were evaluated by a Physical Therapist (PT) and Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC) with a follow-up of functional movements under 3 conditions: physical therapy, physical therapy with simple rhythmic cue, and physical therapy with melodic rhythmic cue. Participant observations and semi-structured interviews with the PT and MT-BC were conducted and analyzed.

Discussion

Two themes emerged: 1) two parts make a whole (subthemes: novice versus expert, knowledge of the other, interprofessional respect, professional comfort zone), 2) symbiotic interactions (subthemes: collaborative goal-directed preparation, co-direction of intervention, co-treatment cueing).

Conclusions

This work illuminates the value of a PT and MT-BC interprofessional collaboration with the late stage HD population in long-term care and identifies key variables for patient care and future research.