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BackgroundDance has been used extensively to help supplement ongoing therapies for people with PD, most commonly on a weekly or biweekly basis. A daily dose, however, may provide additional benefits. This study examines the dose effect of a dance intervention delivered within a clinic for movement disorders in which PwPD are paired with experienced studio tango dancers.ObjectiveThe current study aims to examine the dose effects of daily dance for PwPD on motor and non-motor functions directly within a movement disorders clinic.Designwithin-subject, pre-post-intervention, mixed-methods evaluation including UPDRS III.SettingThe intervention was held at the Movement Disorders Department of a General Hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina over two-weeks.SubjectsThe class had 21 people in total attendance per class. Two were expert tango dancers and instructors, nine were advanced tango dancers (volunteers), two were caregivers and eight were people with mild and moderate severity [Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) scale 1-2] idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.InterventionTen dance lessons, each 90-minutes daily within a two-week period.Outcome measuresThe Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part III was used for pre- and post-motor assessment. Psychological questionnaires, a Likert scale examining symptoms, and a pictorial scale were used to assess non-motor aspects. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to assess the impact of the dance intervention on participants’ experience.ResultsOur study found a significant 18% amelioration in motor symptoms as measured by UPDRS III. We also found improvements on activities of daily living (ADL), sleep, Psychological Needs variables - post high dose dance intervention in Likert Scale.ConclusionsA high dose short-term tango intervention for PwPD improved motor and non-motor aspects of PD such as ADL and sleep with high levels of adherence (97.5%) and enjoyment reported by participants. This dance intervention also improved participant’s perception of their own skills. The frequency or dosage of dance in rehabilitation suggests that an increased dose from once per week to 5 times per week can ameliorate many symptoms of PD and could be used as a short-term intervention.

Neuroimaging research in dance investigates neural signatures and networks to better understand the effects of dance on the brain. From studies of experts showing regions involved in learning choreography to looking at how long-term practice of dance may be reflected in structural and functional brain changes, a growing body of evidence suggests that engagement in dance may be both neuroprotective and neurorehabilitative across the life span. This body of research provides a strong basis and explanatory framework for the emerging trend of using dance in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease. We investigate elements of dance that contribute to these findings, and review recent research in this nascent field, starting with a study involving expert breaker Ken Swift. We also look at applications such as Popping for Parkinson’s®, an international project that specifically draws on the cultural and movement vocabulary of Hip Hop. Linking research on expert dancers and the experiences of older adults participating in dance, this chapter presents a comprehensive model of the ways in which dance can contribute to health and well-being across the lifespan.

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