Rhythm-centred music interventions for motor coordination and rehabilitation: a scoping review of mechanisms, design principles, and technology-assisted assessment.
- 1Institute of Physical Education Teaching and Research, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
- 2Research Center for Arts and Health, Xiamen Humanity Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian, China. [email protected].
Abstract
Objective
To map the evidence on rhythm-centred music interventions and movement-directed music-based strategies for motor coordination and rehabilitation, and to summarize their mechanisms, design principles, and technology-assisted assessment approaches.Methods
This scoping review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute framework and was reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO were searched for English-language empirical studies published from January 2013 to December 2024. Studies were eligible if music or rhythmically structured auditory input was used as a movement-directed intervention and at least one motor, coordination, functional, or movement-quality outcome was reported.Results
Sixty-three studies were included. Coordination-related tasks were the most common targets, while lower-limb/gait function and fine-motor skills formed the largest movement categories. Rhythm was the most frequently used musical element, whereas melody, pitch, motivational music, active music making, and interactive digital systems served more context-dependent functions. Technology-assisted assessment, including sensors, motion capture, gait-analysis platforms, and music-interactive software, was the most common measurement approach.Conclusion
Rhythm-centred and music-based motor interventions are heterogeneous and should be interpreted as descriptive evidence patterns rather than definitive estimates of therapeutic efficacy. Future studies should improve terminology, intervention parameterization, population-specific interpretation, methodological transparency, and multimodal mechanistic validation.
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BibTeX
@article{song2026rhythmcentred,
title = {{Rhythm-centred music interventions for motor coordination and rehabilitation: a scoping review of mechanisms, design principles, and technology-assisted assessment.}},
author = {Yongfan Song and Yaming Wei},
journal = {Journal of rehabilitation medicine},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.2340/jrm.v58.46015},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42861796},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Rhythm-centred music interventions for motor coordination and rehabilitation: a scoping review of mechanisms, design principles, and technology-assisted assessment.
AU - Yongfan Song
AU - Yaming Wei
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Journal of rehabilitation medicine
DO - 10.2340/jrm.v58.46015
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42861796
AB - Objective To map the evidence on rhythm-centred music interventions and movement-directed music-based strategies for motor coordination and rehabilitation, and to summarize their mechanisms, design principles, and technology-assisted assessment approaches.Methods This scoping review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute framework and was reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO were searched for English-language empirical studies published from January 2013 to December 2024. Studies were eligible if music or rhythmically structured auditory input was used as a movement-directed intervention and at least one motor, coordination, functional, or movement-quality outcome was reported.Results Sixty-three studies were included. Coordination-related tasks were the most common targets, while lower-limb/gait function and fine-motor skills formed the largest movement categories. Rhythm was the most frequently used musical element, whereas melody, pitch, motivational music, active music making, and interactive digital systems served more context-dependent functions. Technology-assisted assessment, including sensors, motion capture, gait-analysis platforms, and music-interactive software, was the most common measurement approach.Conclusion Rhythm-centred and music-based motor interventions are heterogeneous and should be interpreted as descriptive evidence patterns rather than definitive estimates of therapeutic efficacy. Future studies should improve terminology, intervention parameterization, population-specific interpretation, methodological transparency, and multimodal mechanistic validation.
SN - 1650-1977
SN - 1651-2081
ER -