Judy Kimball’s work featured in ‘Symphony’ publication

Work by Judith Kimball, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, was highlighted in the article “Sounds of Healing” in the spring 2013 issue of the publication Symphony. Kimball teamed with Lynn Hannings, UNE graduate and longtime Portland Symphony bass player, to develop a program called "Music and Stress: A Sensory Based Wellness Program."

Kimball developed a stress reducing session that included deep breathing and simple seated stretchy band exercises aimed at influencing the nervous system to move into a modulated place. Hannings added certain types of live music that specifically influence the nervous system through their high frequency sounds and overtones. This 20 minute exercise and live music session was designed for hospital employees. Before the program, these easy ways to influence stress were discussed, an explanatory handout was given, and specially recorded CDs which maintained the high frequency sounds and overtones of live music were offered, thus allowing the employees to continue the program on their own.

This program was first piloted with Maine Medical Center and then became one part of a two part grant proposal to the Getty Foundation. The Getty grant was awarded to the Portland Symphony for Kimball and Hannings to conduct the Music and Stress program for staff at New England Rehabilitation Hospital. The second part of the grant provides for playing live music for patients and families at New England Rehab. Through these programs they hope to increase the wellness of both patients and staff.