Once more, from the top— Don’t skip your music
We’ve seen quite a few musicians at Cedar Hill Physical Therapy & Wellness Center over the past month or two. Add that to Paul learning to play the drums.
If you play an instrument (including voice) and are having pain, contact us. If you know a musician, pass this along. Physical therapy can help with music as much as for sports and work-related movement problems.
Whatever you do, don’t stop your music. The health benefits are too important to lose.
Cardio, pulmonary, movement, mental health, pain management – music helps.
As a rock fan and physical therapist, Paul’s axe of choice is a drum kit.
A set of drums gives all four limbs a physical workout, while the brain gets to coordinate everything, assuming you want to sound really good.
“Drumming gives all four limbs a workout with each one acting almost independently of the others,” says Paul. “The brain has its own workout because it has to coordinate everything—that is, if you want to sound good. But it’s beyond brain and limbs. I use my torso—sitting up straight, adjusting my pelvis, shifting weight on my feet. It’s a surprisingly comprehensive workout!”
For a deep dive, check out “Rhythm and Music-Based Interventions in Motor Rehabilitation: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives”. The paper focuses on rehabilitation, but Paul endorses drumming for general well-being.
And prevention. According to this article in Psychology Today, a neurologist has found that drumming helps make t-cells to fight cancer and provide other benefits.
Neurologist Barry Bittman who cofounded a group called Health Rhythms, says drumming “tunes our biology, orchestrates our immunity, and enables healing to begin.”
“That makes me want to put on Pearl Jam and attempt a duet with Dave Abbruzzese,” says Paul.
Of course, there’s also a social connection benefit to all of this. Playing music with friends and strangers is practically in our DNA from ancient time. But today, the caves have better lighting and beverages.