Physical activity based on dance movements as complementary therapy for Parkinson’s disease: Effects on movement, executive functions, depressive symptoms, and quality of life

Abstract

Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease with motor symptoms that are well understood, but non-motor symptoms may be present and appear at different temporal stages of the disease. Physical activity based on dance movements is emerging as a complementary therapeutic approach to a range of PD symptoms as a multidimensional activity that requires rhythmic synchronization and more neuromuscular functions. Objective To evaluate the effects of physical activity based on dance movements on the movement, executive functions, depressive symptoms, quality of life, and severity of PD in individuals diagnosed with PD. Methods 13 individuals with PD (Hoehn & Yahr I-III, MDS-UPDRS 67.62 ± 20.83), underwent physical activity based on dance movements (2x week for 6 months). Participants were assessed at baseline and after 6 months on movement (POMA, TUG and MDS-UPDRS Part III), executive function (FAB), depressive symptoms (MADRS), quality of life (PDQ-39), and severity of PD (MDS-UPDRS TOTAL). Student’s t-test was used to compare pre and post-intervention results. Results We observed a significant improvement in the movement (balance and gait) by the POMA test, p = 0.0207, executive function by the FAB test, p = 0.0074, abstract reasoning and inhibitory control by the FAB, Conceptualization test, p = 0.0062, and Inhibitory Control, p = 0.0064, depressive symptoms assessed by the MADRS test significantly reduced, p = 0.0214, and the quality of life by the PDQ-39 had a significant increase after the intervention, p = 0.0006, showed significant improvements between the pre-and post-intervention periods of physical activity based on dance movements. Conclusion Physical activity based on dance movements contributed to significant improvements in movement (balance and gait), executive functions, especially in cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control, and the quality of life too. Sensorimotor integration, most cognitive processing and social skills may have contributed to the results. Trial registration The study was registered in the Brazilian registry of clinical trials: RBR-3bhbrb5.

Social dance and movement for mental health: A narrative review

“…Aside from these examples, there have been few controlled studies of the effects of solo dance within the context of mood and anxiety (Hellem et al, 2020; Humphries et al, 2023; O'Toole et al, 2015) and many have had small sample sizes (Alpert et al, 2009; Boing et al, 2018; Bouquiaux et al, 2022; Dahmen‐Zimmer & Jansen, 2017; Duarte et al, 2023; Ho et al, 2022). The interpretation of findings from some studies is limited by confounds introduced by participant self‐selection into the experimental (dance) or control conditions (Dahmen‐Zimmer & Jansen, 2017; Fausto et al, 2022; Gurley et al, 1984) or the recruitment of active and control samples from different populations.…”

Evaluation of physiological response and synchronisation errors during synchronous and pseudosynchronous stimulation trials

“…The capacity for sensorimotor synchronisation takes years to develop. People with motor disorders were found to be impaired in rhythmic tasks, including sensorimotor synchronisation 19 , 20 . The tapping cycle consists of flexion and extension phases, usually with an immobility phase in between, occurring either at the point of contact (dwell time) or maximum extension (hold time).…”

HADE: Exploiting Human Action Recognition Through Fine-Tuned Deep Learning Methods

“…Benchmark datasets such as the widely used KTH dataset [4] provide a standardized framework for evaluating HAR algorithms. It is important to note that the distinction between actions and activities is not always clear [5], [6].…”