CLINICAL TRIAL article
Front. Psychol.
Sec. Psychology for Clinical Settings
This article is part of the Research TopicAdvancing Clinical Psychology: Current Research, Emerging Therapies, and Future PerspectivesView all 13 articles
Effects of music-based group exercise in patients with acquired brain injury – a randomised controlled trial
Provisionally accepted
- 1Research Department, Fürst Donnersmarck Foundation of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- 2Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- 3P.A.N. Center for Post-Acute Neurorehabilitation, Berlin, Germany
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Background Cognitive impairment following acquired brain injury (ABI) is common. In this study, we investigated whether music-based group exercise (MBGE) is superior to standard therapy (ST) in improving cognitive deficits. In addition, motivational aspects were investigated. The trial has been registered with the German Register for Clinical Studies (DRKS00025566). Method In the experimental group of this randomized controlled trial, sensors were attached to conventional rehabilitation exercise equipment that used software (Jymmin®) to convert physical activity into good-sounding music. Three patients exercised at the same time and produced a piece of music together. The control group trained individually using the same machines, but without the music-producing sensors. The training schedule comprised four weeks, with three 3o-minute training session per week respectively. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment, four subtests of the Test Battery for Attention, the Bayer Activities of Daily Living Scale, the Multidimensional Mood Questionnaire and a questionnaire on motivational aspects and preferred training constellation were carried out before (T1), after the intervention (T2) and 3 months later (T3). Results 35 patients (MBGE: n=17; ST: n=18) completed the intervention and were included in the analysis. Both groups benefited from the exercise but no significant differences were found between the groups neither in the cognitive assessments, activities of daily living (ADL) nor mood. Group constellation was associated with greater enjoyment, whereas individual therapy was associated with subjectively perceived better concentration and more intensive training. Discussion MBGE was not found to be superior to ST regarding cognition, ADL and mood. Both approaches demonstrated similar potential to positively influence these areas. Generally, individual preferences for group or single constellation should be considered. Further studies are needed to strengthen the evidence base for music-assisted therapy that addresses cognition and mood in people with ABI.
Keywords: Music Therapy, Cognition, mood, Motivation, Group Therapy, physical exercise, Acquiredbrain injury, Stroke
Received: 20 Jun 2025; Accepted: 28 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Schrader, Strank, Sterr, Bamborschke and Dohle. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Mareike Schrader
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