title: Sensory trick phenomenon improves motor control in pianists with dystonia: prognostic value of glove-effect.
abstract: Musician's dystonia (MD) is a task-specific movement disorder that causes loss of voluntary motor control while playing the instrument. A subgroup of patients displays the so-called sensory trick: alteration of somatosensory input, e.g., by wearing a latex glove, may result in short-term improvement of motor control. In this study, the glove-effect in pianists with MD was quantified and its potential association with MD-severity and outcome after treatment was investigated. Thirty affected pianists were included in the study. Music instrument digital interface-based scale analysis was used for assessment of fine motor control. Therapeutic options included botulinum toxin, pedagogical retraining and anticholinergic medication (trihexyphenidyl). 19% of patients showed significant improvement of fine motor control through wearing a glove. After treatment, outcome was significantly better in patients with a significant pre-treatment sensory trick. We conclude that the sensory trick may have a prognostic value for the outcome after treatment in pianists with MD.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Music Physiology and Musicians' Medicine, Hannover University of Music, Drama and Media Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Jakobine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paulig
authors.affiliation: Institute of Musicians' Medicine, Dresden University of Music Carl Maria von Weber Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Jabusch
authors.affiliation: Institute of Music Physiology and Musicians' Medicine, Hannover University of Music, Drama and Media Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Großbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Music Physiology, International Piano Academy Lake Como Dongo, Italy.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boullet
authors.affiliation: Institute of Music Physiology and Musicians' Medicine, Hannover University of Music, Drama and Media Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Eckart
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Altenmüller
keywords: botulinum toxin; focal dystonia; glove-effect; retraining; sensory trick