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Music Therapy and Physical Activity in Neurological Diseases
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Music Therapy and Physical Activity in Neurological Diseases

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 7121

Editors

Dr. Claudia Vinciguerra

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84131 Salerno, Italy
Interests: neuromuscular disorders; electromyography/evoked potential; clinical neurophysiology; myasthenia gravis; music therapy; rare disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Battaglia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, Educational Sciences and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90144 Palermo, Italy
Interests: sport; exercise training; performance; quality of life; health promotion; childhood; aging; disability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Our aim for this Special Issue is to collect research that investigates the role of music therapy and physical activity in neurological diseases across the human lifespan. This Special Issue will focus on new approaches (e.g., ecological, nutritional) and training protocols with and without music, as well as applications of new technologies in health-related aspects of neurological diseases. New challenges are emerging for researchers promoting health-related aspects for people with neurological diseases. In response to this, our aim for this Special Issue is to collect papers exploring the multi-dimensional concept of health-related quality of life, including domains related to music-based interventions in the context of physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning.

Authors are invited to contribute to this Special Issue by submitting letters, original research papers, case studies, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews that contribute new knowledge to the area of physical exercise and music therapy, as well as psychology, neuroscience, education, medicine, and clinical practice. The study selection phase will be followed by a rigorous peer review process prior to publication. This Special Issue will share research results and applications in clinical and exercise science.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Claudia Vinciguerra
Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Battaglia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • music therapy
  • music-based interventions
  • rehabilitation
  • physical exercise
  • neurological diseases

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1990 KB  
Article
Enriched Acoustic Environment Therapy (EAE): A Cost-Effective and Feasible Alternative to Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)
by Marta Fernández-Ledesma, Ricardo Sanz-Fernández, María Cuesta and Pedro Cobo
Healthcare 2025, 13(24), 3248; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13243248 - 11 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1048
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Tinnitus affects approximately 15% of the population and lacks a universally effective treatment. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) is widely used but requires 6–8 h of daily sound exposure for 1–2 years, limiting accessibility and adherence. This study evaluated the clinical feasibility and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Tinnitus affects approximately 15% of the population and lacks a universally effective treatment. Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) is widely used but requires 6–8 h of daily sound exposure for 1–2 years, limiting accessibility and adherence. This study evaluated the clinical feasibility and therapeutic effectiveness of Enriched Acoustic Environment therapy (EAE), a streamlined alternative using individualized sound stimulation with a markedly reduced treatment burden, and compared its time efficiency with published TRT outcomes. Methods: 82 adults with chronic tinnitus received standardized counseling and completed one of two EAE protocols (continuous or sequential). Participants listened to their personalized stimulus for 1 h/day over four months. Tinnitus severity (THI, TFI) and time-efficiency metrics (improvement per 10 listening hours) were assessed and compared with TRT studies reporting baseline and post-treatment THI. Results: EAE produced clinically relevant and statistically significant improvements, with 51.6% THI and 49.8% TFI reduction (p < 0.001). Both stimuli achieved similar outcomes with high responder rates. EAE yielded ~2.3 THI-point improvement per 10 h (~4.3% relative gain), demonstrating substantially greater time efficiency—approximately 20 times higher than values reported for standard TRT protocols. Conclusions: EAE achieved robust symptom reduction with dramatically lower treatment burden, high adherence, and strong clinical feasibility. These findings support EAE as an accessible, time-efficient alternative to TRT. Controlled long-term studies are warranted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Music Therapy and Physical Activity in Neurological Diseases)
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Review

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24 pages, 855 KB  
Review
The Impact of Dance-Based Physical Activity on Sensorimotor and Psychological Function in Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative Review
by Giuditta Carretti, Lorenzo Guidi, Mirko Manetti and Mirca Marini
Healthcare 2026, 14(1), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14010105 - 1 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1675
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a wide range of motor and non-motor symptoms that significantly compromise daily functionality, psychophysical wellbeing, and quality of life. Currently, a number of pharmacological and surgical treatments can reduce [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a wide range of motor and non-motor symptoms that significantly compromise daily functionality, psychophysical wellbeing, and quality of life. Currently, a number of pharmacological and surgical treatments can reduce the clinical severity of motor impairments, but they are limited or poorly tolerated for non-motor symptoms, thus highlighting the need for non-medical complementary approaches. In this context, dance-based interventions have emerged as promising and enjoyable integrative strategies to globally and safely manage such multidimensional complex challenges. This narrative review aims to synthesize the current evidence of the effectiveness of dance-based interventions to improve psychophysical function and quality of life in individuals affected by PD, also providing an updated insight into the feature-related benefits of different dance styles. Methods: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane was conducted, and 66 original studies investigating dance-based integrative interventions to enhance physical, cognitive, and socioemotional outcomes in this target population were selected. Results: Across different styles, the reviewed literature suggests that dance can positively impact on motor symptoms, neuroplasticity, and psychosocial outcomes through rhythmic cueing, motor–cognitive integration, and expressive and social engagement. Furthermore, dance offers a non-medicalized enjoyable context able to foster motivation and practice adherence. Conclusions: Dance-based interventions represent a promising complementary approach in the management of PD, with the potential to enhance both physical functioning and overall quality of life. Further rigorous, longitudinal and comparative studies are needed to clarify dose–response relationship, style-specific effects, and long-term benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Music Therapy and Physical Activity in Neurological Diseases)
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21 pages, 298 KB  
Review
Effectiveness of Telecoaching and Music Therapy in Neurological Disorders: A Narrative Review and Proposal for a New Interventional Approach
by Ignazio Leale, Claudia Vinciguerra, Vincenzo Di Stefano, Filippo Brighina and Giuseppe Battaglia
Healthcare 2025, 13(7), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13070826 - 4 Apr 2025
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3074
Abstract
Neurological disorders represent a significant challenge for healthcare systems, necessitating innovative and multidisciplinary therapeutic approaches. These disorders often lead to difficulties in various aspects of daily life, including physical functioning, mental health, and quality of life (QoL). Telecoaching (TC) and Music Therapy (MT) [...] Read more.
Neurological disorders represent a significant challenge for healthcare systems, necessitating innovative and multidisciplinary therapeutic approaches. These disorders often lead to difficulties in various aspects of daily life, including physical functioning, mental health, and quality of life (QoL). Telecoaching (TC) and Music Therapy (MT) are two emerging modalities that may provide valuable support for individuals with these conditions. This narrative review aims to analyse recent studies investigating the efficacy of TC and MT in this population. A total of 23 studies were included in this narrative review. These studies indicate that TC positively affects physical functioning and adherence to intervention programs, with participants reporting improvements in gait and balance, as well as a reduction in postural instability and fall rates. Similarly, MT has shown promising outcomes in decreasing anxiety and sleep disorders while enhancing cognitive and emotional well-being. Integrating TC and MT into treatment approaches offers a promising alternative for improving QoL and overall well-being. However, further research is needed to consolidate the evidence and optimize the implementation of these interventions in clinical practice. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and comparative evaluations to further clarify the role of TC and MT in the treatment of neurological disorders, as well as their long-term effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Music Therapy and Physical Activity in Neurological Diseases)
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