Dancing to improve balance control, cognitive-motor functions and quality of life after stroke: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Dance interventions for individuals post-stroke - a scoping review

BACKGROUND

There is a growing body of literature assessing the potential benefits of dance for individuals post-stroke.

OBJECTIVES

We conducted a scoping review mapping the state of the literature on feasibility, intervention procedures, and efficacy of dance to improve health-related outcomes for individuals post-stroke.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Included studies were original research that described the use of a dance intervention for individuals post-stroke, included any health-related outcome, and were written in English.

SOURCES OF EVIDENCE

Databases selected were Pubmed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Proquest, MedRxiv, and CINHAL.

CHARTING METHODS

Two reviewers extracted relevant data and results were organized into themes and categories determined by all authors through discussion.

RESULTS

We searched electronic databases were in February 2021. We included 18 publications from 14 studies. Ten were quantitative, five were qualitative, one was mixed-methods, and two were community project descriptions. Twelve publications evaluated in-person dance classes and six evaluated dance exergaming. Based on the limited studies included, evidence suggests dance is a feasible and potentially effective intervention for individuals post-stroke. Studies demonstrate dance may facilitate changes in balance and fall risk, encourage confidence, promote comfort with the changed body, increase rehabilitation motivation, and facilitate community reintegration. Evidence is limited by number of studies, design (lack of control groups and blinded assessments), intervention descriptions, and outcomes reporting.

CONCLUSIONS

There is growing interest in dance for stroke interventions. Further research should focus on rigorous study design, optimal intervention timing, consistency of reporting outcomes, key elements of dance classes, and the impact of cultural dance styles.

Dance after stroke improves motor recovery in the subacute phase: A randomized controlled trial

Purpose

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a dance program, combined with conventional treatments, on the motor recovery and quality of life of stroke survivors in comparison with conventional treatments alone.

Materials and methods

A total of 16 subacute stroke survivors were randomized into two groups: a dance group (DG) and a conventional treatments group (CG). Stroke severity, cognitive abilities, and motor capacities were assessed at baseline. For six weeks, all participants underwent standard rehabilitation. However, in the DG, participants attended an additional weekly dance class. In both groups, the Mini-BESTest, Functional Independence Measure (FIM), ABC-Scale, Lower Extremity Motor Coordination Test (LEMOCOT), quadriceps strength, and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) were measured at weeks 4 and 6. Nonparametric statistical tests were applied.

Results

Compared to the CG, the DG significantly improved recovery of balance, coordination, and FIM after four or six weeks. No differences were observed for quadriceps strength, SS-QOL, or cognition. Participants were completely satisfied with the dance class, and no adverse effects were observed.

Conclusions

This study was discontinued following the COVID-19 health crisis. However, the analysis revealed numerous beneficial effects of dance practice for subacute stroke survivors. The results contribute significantly to the advancement of artistic practices in stroke rehabilitation.

Dance-Themed National Biomechanics Day Community Engagement to Inspire our Future STEAM Leaders

Community engagement experiences through National Biomechanics Day (NBD) that focused on dance biomechanics have provided excellent Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) learning opportunities. During these experiences, bidirectional learning has been enjoyed by the biomechanists hosting the events and the kindergarten through 12th grade student attendees. In this article, perspectives are shared about dance biomechanics and hosting dance-themed NBD events. Importantly, examples of high school student feedback are provided that point towards the positive impact of NBD by inviting future generations to advance the field of biomechanics.

Motivation as a Measurable Outcome in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Motivated behaviours are thought to lead to enhanced performances. In the neurorehabilitation field, motivation has been demonstrated to be a link between cognition and motor performance, therefore playing an important role upon rehabilitation outcome determining factors. While motivation-enhancing interventions have been frequently investigated, a common and reliable motivation assessment strategy has not been established yet. This review aims to systematically explore and provide a comparison among the existing motivation assessment tools concerning stroke rehabilitation. For this purpose, a literature search (PubMed and Google Scholar) was performed, using the following Medical Subject Headings terms: "assessment" OR "scale" AND "motivation" AND "stroke" AND "rehabilitation". In all, 31 randomized clinical trials and 15 clinical trials were examined. The existing assessment tools can be grouped into two categories: the first mirroring the trade-off between patients and rehabilitation, the latter reflecting the link between patients and interventions. Furthermore, we presented assessment tools which reflect participation level or apathy, as an indirect index of motivation. In conclusion, we are left to put forth a possible common motivation assessment strategy, which might provide valuable incentive to investigate in future research.

Effects of plaza dancing and its impact on the figure, physical function and quality of life in middle-aged and elderly women

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of plaza dancing and its impact on the figure, physical function and quality of life in middle-aged and elderly women.

METHODS

A total of 109 middle-aged and elderly women in a community, were selected as the study subjects by the Department of Physical Health in Qiqihar Medical University, and divided into Group A (n=54) and Group B (n=55) in accordance with the exercise methods. Group A did not receive special intervention, and lived and worked normally, while Group B performed plaza dancing. The changes in the scores of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised in China (WMS-RC), figure, physical function and fitness and quality of life were compared between the two groups before and after intervention.

RESULTS

Compared with Group A, Group B had a smaller body mass index (BMI), waistline and hipline, lower weight, heart rate at the resting state, PSQI scores, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as a higher vital capacity and scores of WMS-RC and quality of life, a shorter duration of quadrant jumps, a longer duration of standing on one leg with eyes closed and distance reached in seated forward bending, after intervention (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The effect of plaza dancing is satisfactory, and plaza dancing is conducive to improving the figure, physical function and fitness, memory function, sleep quality and quality of life in middle-aged and elderly women.