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

Abstract

IntroductionDance is an intrinsically motivating activity that includes social interaction, stimulation through music, the pleasure of moving despite pathology-induced motor limitations, and it also has good perceived benefits among participants. Feeling pleasure while moving is essential to finding the motivation to engage in a rehabilitation programme. It is, therefore, urgent to provide persons in a poststroke situation with motivating physical activity opportunities. Very few studies have examined dance in a stroke context, while it is highly adapted and effective for other chronic conditions.Our primary objective is to assess the effects of dance programme on patients’ balance control after stroke. Our secondary objective is to investigate the effects of dance on cognitive function, strength, coordination, functional status, balance confidence, quality of life, motivation and adherence. Our hypothesis is that dance increases balance and motor capacities, and improves poststroke quality of life, adherence and motivation.Methods and analysisForty-eight subjects with stroke in subacute phase will be randomised into two groups: (1) intervention (dance and standard rehabilitation) and (2) control (standard rehabilitation). Before intervention, stroke severity, cognitive abilities and motor capacities will be assessed. Two baseline tests will be planned to evaluate the stability of individuals. Participants will attend a weekly 60-min dance class for 6 weeks. Cognitive and motor functions (balance, lower-limbs strength, coordination and motor level), quality of life (Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale) will be measured at weeks 4 and 6 in both groups. Participant satisfaction with regard to dance will be tested, as well as adherence and adverse effects.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval has been granted by the Swiss Ethics Committee of the CER Vaud (2019-01467). Outcomes will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at conferences.Trial registration numberNCT04120467.

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

“…This is a single-center study, parallel-arm RCT. The protocol was published previously [ 20 ]. We divided the sample into two groups: 1) dance and 2) conventional treatment.…”

“…The dance class, a combination of contemporary (including choreography) and social dance (more repetitive steps) styles, consisted of five steps accompanied by music [ 15 , 18 ]: 10-min warm-up, 10-min technical drills, 15-min improvisation, 15-min quick dance routine, and cool-down and feedback period [ 20 ]. Dance class included physical components (flexibility, postural control, coordination, endurance, and limb functions), social components (exercises between dancers during dance movements and a structured speaking time at the end of the dance class), and cognitive components (memory).…”

“…All secondary outcomes were selected for their feasibility in the context of the study and for their moderate to excellent reliability (ICC > 0.60) and validity ( r or Cronbach's alpha > 0.61) [ 20 ].…”