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IM: What It Is and Who Can Benefit

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Who Can Benefit?

Adults diagnosed with a wide variety of conditions benefit from using IM. Here are some:
– ADHD
– Brain Injury
– Brain Tumor
(following surgery or chemotherapy)
– Limb Amputation
– MS
– Parkinson’s
– Stroke
– Spinal Cord Injury

Children IM is beneficial for most neurological conditions. Here are some of the common ones:
– ADHD
– Apraxia/Dyspraxia
– Autism Spectrum Disorders

(including Asperger’s, PDD)
– Brain Injury
– Brain Tumor
(following surgery or chemotherapy)
– Auditory Processing Disorder
– Cerebral Palsy
– Dyslexia & Reading Disorders
– Language-Learning Disabled
– Limb Amputation
– Non-verbal Learning Disorder
– Sensory Processing Disorder
– Stuttering
– Stroke

What It Is

IM is an assessment and treatment tool used by therapists and other professionals who work with pediatric and adult patients with neurological conditions that affect cognitive and motor functioning. IM provides an objective method for measuring deficits and for tracking improvement.

IM is an engaging therapeutic modality that improves cognitive and motor skills. The design of the program ensures that patients recognize progress as it is occurring, increasing their motivation toward therapy and their ultimate recovery.

IM takes therapy to a new level.  Rather than simply performing repetitive movement or cognitive activities to achieve functional gains, therapists that incorporate IM into functional therapy activities report their patients are more engaged, more alert, complete far more repetitions of functional movement patterns and activities in a more precise and timely manner, and demonstrate faster progress toward cognitive, communicative, and physical therapy goals. Patients who are challenged and can see measureable improvements are more motivated to continue their therapy and achieve optimal success.

IM Is Evidence-Based with Scientific Research

In 2013 the US Department of Defense & Veterans Brain Injury commission completed research using IM – the paper is titled Effects of Interactive Metronome Therapy on Cognitive Functioning After Blast-Related Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial. This studied concluded that “the addition of IM therapy to SRC (standard rehabilitation care) appears to have a positive effect on neuropsychological outcomes on soldiers who have sustained mild-to-moderate TBI and have persistent cognitive complaints after the period for expected recovery has passed.” More simply stated the study indicates greater improvements and were acquired more quickly. The US Veteran’s Administration has since acquired the equipment and is in process of integrating IM into their rehabilitation programs.
Effects of Interactive Metronome Therapy on Cognitive Functioning After Blast-Related Brain Injury-A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial _Nelson et al. Neuropsychology Sep 23 2013

To learn more about IM you can download the following documents to read more of the scientific research.
1. The IM Specific Research Booklet contains 19 research studies and white papers on IM total 278 pages.
Click here to visit the IM website and download the booklet.

2. The IM Research Bibliography is a listing of all the research references at the basis of IM science.

 

 

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