Interactive metronome® is a high-tech developing technique used to improve the sense of rhythm, sense of time, ability to organize movements and information. This computer corrective program was developed by Interactive Metronome Company (USA).

DO YOU NEED IT?

The sense of time is decisive for the rehabilitation of post-stroke patients. The principle of the Interactive Metronome is based on the correction of temporal relations in the activity of the cerebral cortex.

Numerous clinical studies conducted by various scientists clearly show that insufficiency in motor planning is the cause of various problems in the motor sphere. In other words, an underdeveloped sense of rhythm and time often leads to problems with:

• Concentration of attention;
• Coordination and movement;
• Speech;
• Behavior.

Sessions are prescribed to patients with:

• Disturbance of oral and written speech (the consequences of stroke and traumatic brain injury);
• Stuttering;
• Ticks;
• Obsessive-compulsive syndrome;
• Disturbance of coordination of movements (Parkinson’s disease, consequences of a stroke or brain injury).

WHAT PROBLEM DOES IT SOLVE?

Any purposeful activity requires ordering the movements and foresight of the result. This is called “motor planning”.

Many patients, who have suffered a stroke or a brain injury, find it difficult to concentrate on performing task; memorize and execute instructions consisting of several parts; organize their activities; carry out tasks to the end.

American scientists have found out that all these problems often have a common cause – disturbance of brain functions, responsible for planning actions over time, remembering and reproducing sequences of actions.

Scientists believe that the sense of time and the sense of rhythm is the basis for mastering any skills, including reading, writing and counting.

If there are problems with a sense of rhythm and sense of time, then usually suffers not only coordination of major movements, but also speech, and even mental activity. These brain functions can be trained.

HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?

First should be performed an evaluation of the sense of rhythm and sense of time. Thanks to many years of research Interactive Metronome Company, the standards for each age group are known.

Exercises are performed using a sensory glove or a sensory pad. The patient hears rhythmic beats through the headphones and tries to synchronize his movements with them: clapping his hands or stomping his foot.

Interactive Metronome® objectively evaluates the ability to correlate movements with the beat rhythm. The results, estimated in millisecond time intervals, are taken into account in the scale, which indicates the quality of the motor planning.

Then a training program is prepared. Training is given with the assistance of an instructor.

Interactive Metronome® provides “feedback” – auditory and visual. The patient can see on the screen of the monitor how accurately he performs the task. On the basis of feedback, he can correct his movements.

WHAT ARE THE RESULTS?

Interactive Metronome® was created in 1994 by American scientists to develop a sense of rhythm among musicians. Doctors and teachers became interested in this. In the beginning Interactive Metronome® was being used in work with athletes. Then the studies proved the effectiveness of using Interactive Metronome® for people who had suffered a stroke or brain injury, patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Training results in normalization of patients’ pace and rhythm of speech. It develops the function of programming and implementing of speech utterance. Skills of reading, writing, and math skills get improved. Also it develops motor skills, rhythmicity, coordination of movements, improves gait.

WHAT IS THE NOVELTY AND DIFFERENCE FROM OTHERS?

“Neurological clinic of Dr. Yatsenko” was the first in Ukraine to use Interactive Metronome® program for training patients who had suffered a stroke or craniocerebral trauma.

HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE?

The optimal results can be achieved by having several courses, which makes 40 sessions together. Sessions are held 3-4 times a week. The duration of each session is 20 minutes.

There is no age restriction for the sessions.