Interactive Metronome
Over a decade of clinical research on IM demonstrates gains in motor planning, rhythmicity, timing and sequencing, leading to improvements in:
- Attention & Concentration
- Language Processing
- Behavior (Aggression & Impulsivity)
- Executive Functioning
- Fine/Gross Motor Skills
- Balance & Gait
- Strength & Endurance
- Coordination
- Motor Skills for Independent Living
- Independence with Adaptive Equipment
What is IM?
The Interactive Metronome (IM) is a brain based rehabilitation assessment and training program developed to directly improve the processing abilities that affect attention, motor planning and sequencing. This in turn, provides a non-invasive way to stimulate learning and development for children with a wide range of cognitive and physical difficulties.
How Does IM Work?
The IM program provides a structured, goal oriented training process that challenges the patient to precisely match a computer generated beat. Participants are instructed to synchronize hand and foot exercises to a reference tone heard through headphones. The patient attempts to match the rhythmic beat with repetitive motor actions such as tapping his/her toes on a floor sensor mat or hand clapping while wearing an IM glove with palm trigger. A patented audio and visual guidance system provides immediate feedback. The difference between the patient's performance and the computer-generated beat is measured in milliseconds and a score is provided. A low score indicates better accuracy and timing.
Who Can Benefit?
Individuals with motor planning and sequencing problems, speech and language delays, motor and sensory disorders, learning disabilities and various cognitive and physical difficulties may benefit from the IM program. Adult and pediatric patients who have benefited from IM include those with:
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Cerebral Vascular Disorder (CVA)
- Parkinson's Disease
- Developmental Disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Amputee
- Decline in Function
- Balance Disorders
Clinical Results
Spinal Cord Injury
A 32-year-old male with paraparesis underwent IM rehabilitation training after demonstrating significant impairments with hip and ankle equilibrium reactions. Prior to IM, his heels were not able to touch the floor during ambulation and he could only tolerate the treadmill for 2 minutes at 0.5 mph. A total of 19 IM training sessions were conducted. After training, he was able to sit then stand independently, walk on a treadmill for over 30 minutes at 1.2 mph, and ambulate 130' with only minimal contact guard assistance.
Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA)
A 46-year-old mortgage manager sustained a Cerebral Vascular Accident and presented with a vestibular disorder. He suffered from severe dizziness with head and eye movement, mild problem solving difficulties, pronounced ataxic gait, poor coordination, jumping difficulties and loss of balance. After 11 sessions with the Interactive Metronome, the man performed all advanced balance skills with improved coordination. He could jump and perform jumping jacks without loss of balance and dizziness decreased to 20% of the time. He was independent with executive level problem solving skills.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
D.S. suffered a traumatic brain Injury (TBI) in a car accident when he was 19 years old. Before IM, D.S. displayed very jerky motions, an unstable waddle like gait, and a severe speech stutter. In the years following his injury, he had been able to relearn primary gross motor and speech functions. D.S. was 38 years old when he underwent IM training. By the time D.S. had completed his sixth IM therapy session, he had significantly improved precise gross motor control over his arms. Upon completing IM training, D.S. eliminated the waddle in his walk and improved his speech.
Locations
South Shore
Braintree Pediatric
Plymouth
Learn more about the Interactive Metronome:
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