Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Novel Intervention Integrating Physical Therapy Exercise and Dance Movement Therapy on Fall Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Women: A Randomized Pilot Study

Abstract

This pilot study presents a novel fall prevention intervention that integrates physical therapy exercise (PTE) and dance movement therapy (DMT) to address both physical and emotional fall risk factors, as well as factors influencing adherence to treatment. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of the intervention in a sample of eight older women (median = 86 [81.25–90.75] years) from a day center for senior citizens. The intervention, based on the Otago Exercise Program and DMT techniques, aimed to address the emotional experience during physical exercise. Participants were randomly assigned to either a PTE+DMT intervention group (n = 5) or a PTE control group (n = 3). A pre–post intervention battery of physical and emotional fall risk assessments, therapist–patient bond, and home exercise adherence was conducted. Non-parametric tests results showed significant improvement in the PTE+DMT group in measures of balance and fear of falling compared to the PTE group. However, no other significant differences were found between the groups in terms of falls-related psychological concerns, self-perceived health status, therapist–patient bond, and home exercise adherence. These findings demonstrate the feasibility and potential benefits of an intervention that integrates both physical and emotional aspects to reduce fall risk in older adults, and provide a basis for further studies and modifications in the research protocol.

Investigating the emotional content of older adults engaging in a fall prevention exercise program integrated with dance movement therapy: a preliminary study

“…The findings of that study demonstrated that engaging in dance activities involving movement mirroring, spontaneous expression, and creativity elicited a sense of surprise among the grandmothers as they discovered newfound abilities in their bodies, such as strength and power, despite experiencing movement difficulties. In addition, the current finding is also consistent with the results of our previous study, which indicated a trend towards improvement in the physical components of self-perceived health status in the PTE + DMT group, but not in the PTE group ( Pitluk Barash et al, 2023 ).…”

“It doesn’t feel like exercise”: a realist process evaluation of factors that support long-term attendance at dance classes designed for healthy ageing

“…Dance classes using the RIPE Dance approach have the potential to be scaled for greater access in the community and in aged care. A pilot randomised study testing a model similar to RIPE Dance which integrates physical therapy exercises for fall prevention with dance movement therapy has demonstrated the program’s feasibility and potential benefits ( 136 ). Dance classes require little equipment and are not resource intensive to organize, however they do require an excellent and committed teacher with technical, creative and interpersonal skills and a caring, outgoing personality ( 96 , 112 ).…”

Effect of Physical Exercise on Executive Functions Using the Emotional Stroop Task in Perimenopausal Women: A Pilot Study

“…The effects of aerobic exercise on mental well-being and physical fitness have been extensively demonstrated [9,10]. Several studies have revealed the relationship between fitness and cognition in different populations [11].…”

“…Several neurocognitive functions are modulated during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and throughout a woman's entire lifespan. Reproductive hormones are involved in the function of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, as well as cognitive performance, including verbal, memory, and executive functions [7][8][9][10]. The general pattern of age-related preservation and decline indicates that prefrontal white matter is the most susceptible to the influence of age [2,3,8].…”