Abstract

Purpose: To describe the effects of a contemporary dance program, combined with conventional physiotherapy, on postural control, satisfaction and adherence in mild-moderate Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.

Methods: A withdrawal/reversion test with three intervention periods. Each period lasts for two months: physiotherapy, physiotherapy + dance and withdrawing dance and continuing with the physiotherapy sessions. Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up & Go test (TUG), Sensory Organization Test (SOT), Motor Control Test (MCT) and Rhythmic Weigh Shift (RWS) were assessed at T1 (baseline), T2 (post-physiotherapy treatment), T3 (post-physiotherapy and dance) and T4 (post-physiotherapy). A satisfaction questionnaire and adherence were registered.

Results: 27 patients (67.32 ± 6.14 yrs) completed the study. Statistical analysis revealed differences between T2-T3 (p = 0.027), T2-T4 (p = 0.029), T1-T3 (p = 0.010) and T1-T4 (p = 0.008) for BBS; and between T1-T2 (p = 0.037), T1-T3 (p = 0.005), T1-T4 (p = 0.004), T2-T3 (p = 0.022) and T2-T4 (p = 0.041) for TUG. Significant differences for CES (p < 0.001), VEST (p = 0.024) and strategy (p = 0.011) were observed, but not for MCT. Lateromedial velocity (p = 0.003) and anteroposterior velocity (p < 0.001) were significant for RWT. Patients showed a high level of satisfaction and adherence.

Conclusions: A short 8-weeks contemporary dance program plus combined physiotherapy shows benefits in functional mobility and balance, with a high degree of satisfaction and adherence in PD.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONContemporary dance, combined with physiotherapy, is a useful therapeutic tool to treat balance disorders and postural control in people with PD.A short 8-weeks contemporary dance program plus combined physiotherapy shows high satisfaction in people with PD.Contemporary dance, combined with physiotherapy, shows high adherence in people with mild-moderate PD to treat postural control.

Keywords: Balance; Parkinson's disease; dance; postural control; posturography.