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Music could be used to help stroke patients recover from brain injury, according to new research.

Several small trials of music therapy for stroke patients with a brain injury suggest the treatment can improve their speech, behaviour and lessen pain.

The Cochrane Systematic Review looked at the way music therapy provided by trained music therapists can help improve movement in stroke patients and the findings relating to brain injury patients was an offshoot of that research.

"This review shows encouraging results for the effects of music therapy in stroke patients," said lead researcher Joke Bradt.

"As most of the studies we looked at used rhythm-based methods, we suggest that rhythm may be a primary factor in music therapy approaches to treating stroke."

Strokes are the third most common cause of death in the UK, according to the charity Headway.

In a stroke brain cells can become starved of oxygen by the likes of a blood clot, resulting in acquired brain injury or death.

News brought to you by Serious Law, specialists in acquired brain injury

Posted by Matthew Heap

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