Karate and Dance Training to Improve Balance and Stabilize Mood in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Feasibility Study

Abstract

The present pilot study investigated the effect of karate (according to the rules of the German Karate Federation) and dance training compared to an inactive control group in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). 65 patients were recruited. At the end, 37 patients completed the post-test. From those 37 patients, 16 had chosen the karate training, 9 the dance training and 12 the waiting control group. Before and after the whole training phase cognitive performance, emotional well-being and balance were measured. The results showed that both, karate and dance training groups, improved balance. Furthermore, the mood dropped only in the waiting control group receiving no training at all, whereas it remained stable in patients who attended the karate and dance group. The training adherence was higher in the karate than the dance group indicating a high acceptability in PD patients for karate. In sum, karate can have the same positive effects as dance for PD patients. Further studies with larger samples and more rigorous methodologies are required to investigate the reported effects in more detail.

The effect of karate training on changes in physical fitness in school-age children with normal and abnormal body weight

“…The effectiveness of martial arts training in improving balance was previously confirmed by other researchers as well. dahmen-Zimmer and Jansen [20] examined 37 pa- The present research revealed an improvement in the dynamic strength test, which indicated longer distance jumps. Statistical significance was observed in the groups of girls with normal and excess body weight, as well as in the group of overweight boys.…”

KICK OUT PD: Feasibility and quality of life in the pilot karate intervention to change kinematic outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease

“…The ten-week duration of the trial itself likely rendered measurable change in these domains highly unlikely, compounded by the study being underpowered. Improvements have been seen in such domains in prior karate studies, albeit of longer duration [10,12].…”

“…despite achievement of individually-set goals and improvement in quality of life, objective benefits were not demonstrated. In a recent German pilot study comparing weekly karate vs. dance among individuals with PD, participants self-selected into karate training, dance training, or a sedentary control group, with 16, 9, and 12 participants in each, respectively [12]. Dahmen-Zimmer et al highlighted the feasibility of conducting karate classes with PD patients and reported high adherence as a marker of high acceptability.…”

“…A 1986 study demonstrated physical and psychological benefits of both a seated karate program and a traditional, PD-specific exercise program [11]. More recently, a study where participants self-selected into an inactive control group, dance training, or karate training demonstrated improved balance and stable mood in dance and karate, and greater adherence to the karate intervention [12].…”

Happiness: A Novel Outcome in Parkinson Studies?

“…A PubMed search for clinical trials that measured happiness, well-being, or self-compassion in persons with PD only yielded several small studies: none used self-compassion, one used happiness [26], and ten used well-being as an outcome [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36] (see Table 1 for more information). Well-being and happiness measurements were used as a primary outcome in five [27,28,30,33,35] out of eleven clinical trials. Moreover, well-being outcomes were often claimed to be measured, while the scores were derived from QoL questionnaires and not from specific well-being questionnaires.…”