Patients with a brain disorder have been receiving a new medicine for a week at the Elkerliek Hospital in Helmond, namely music. In addition to the usual medications and physiotherapy, patients are prescribed one to two hours of music per day. According to nurse Anita van Meijel, it accelerates healing. This became apparent after a test period, but now music is also officially used. “It’s special, but it really works.”
The department of the Helmond hospital where Van Meijel works houses patients who have had a cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage. But also people with, for example, a brain tumor or Parkinson’s.
“They often have a paralyzed arm, crooked mouth, problems with seeing and difficulty speaking,” says Van Meijel. “They have to recuperate here. This is done with medicines and physiotherapy. And since a week now also with music.”
“Listening to music stimulates all parts of your brain.”
Neurology nurse Van Meijel came up with the idea of using music as medicine. “I did a study and there I saw that you can achieve a lot with music. This gives patients more rest, but you can also heal the brain with it. By listening to music, all parts of your brain receive stimuli, which helps you heal faster.”
According to Anita, it is a supplement and not a replacement for the usual medications. “It is without obligation, but we recommend listening to your favorite music for one to two hours in the evening after visiting hours. And to repeat that for two months after you get out of the hospital.”
All music helps, from Jan Biggel to Nirvana and from Gerard van Maasakkers to The Rolling Stones. As long as it’s your favorite music. “Although immediately after a cerebral infarction it is sometimes better to start slowly,” Van Meijel adds. “If you turn on quiet music, you can move along. If you immediately start listening to hard rock, your body is not yet able to move that quickly.” The advice is therefore to build up slowly.
“He was suddenly able to move his leg, which was much faster than expected.”
She would choose carnival music herself. “I then think of carnival that I always celebrate with friends, that makes me happy. Then you start moving along, which helps motor skills. And when there is singing, it helps your speech development.” All of that together helps the healing.
It won’t be karaoke in her department. “But you do hear people humming along. And sometimes I also sing along, André Hazes is popular as a sing-along.”
Van Meijel has already experienced the first ‘miraculous healing’. “A patient was suddenly able to move his leg, which was much faster than expected. That was really special and unique. It is just difficult to investigate to what extent music has accelerated healing.”