Abstract
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms which are strongly associated with patients’ quality of life, affecting social skills and support. It strikes not only the motor abilities but may harm cognitive and emotional functioning. For the past 15 years, contemporary dance has been employed as an intervention to help people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease cope physically and mentally by way of motor, vestibular, and sensory stimulation as well as social interaction. In this study we aimed to examine psychological flexibility, creative self-efficacy and quality of life of Parkinson’s patients participating in contemporary dance sessions. To obtain this goal we conducted a cross-sectional comparative study of 50 Parkinson’s patients aged 50–87 years, half of which had been participating for at least 3 months once a week, in contemporary dance classes, and the matched controls participated in a verbal support group. Study participants completed questionnaires after participating in a dance class (Intervention) or in a support group (control). Participants in the intervention group were also asked to answer three open-ended questions that examined the experience of participating in contemporary dance classes. We found that psychological flexibility and quality of life were significantly higher in the dance class participants. Participants reported positive changes that occur in their overall feeling and quality of life following their participation in dance classes. Since PD patients’ experiences are deeply embedded in the body, it is significant to explore the use of movement in treatment. The importance of the study is in its potential to highlight the relationship between psychological flexibility and quality of life and to increase awareness of clinicians treating Parkinson’s patients to the importance of incorporating dance as an inherent part of a multidisciplinary team effort.
Highlights
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease worldwide which affects the control of body movements, and has shown 2.4 times increase between 1990–2016, with 6.1 million individuals diagnosed with PD in 2016, and this number is on the rise (Armstrong and Okun, 2020)
In order to obtain our study goals, we conducted a comparative community-based cross-sectional comparative study to examine the difference in the level of psychological flexibility, creative self-efficacy and QoL among PD patients participating in contemporary dance classes to a matched control group of PD patients attending a verbal support group
While we are aware that clinical studies often match samples based on level of functioning using Hoehn & Yahr status, Mini-Mental State evaluation, dopaminergic therapy expressed in Levodopa Equivalent Dose (LEDD), and/or the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS III), being a community-based study, we did not have access to participants medical information, to include, disease stage, medical treatment or on off status, nor were we able to conduct diagnostic observations
Summary
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease worldwide which affects the control of body movements, and has shown 2.4 times increase between 1990–2016, with 6.1 million individuals diagnosed with PD in 2016, and this number is on the rise (Armstrong and Okun, 2020). The major symptoms have not changed since it was first described, and diagnosis is based on observed motor signs (Davie, 2008; Jankovic, 2008). The motor signs that lead to diagnosis only occur after there is over 70% dopaminergic loss in the substantia nigra. The major motor symptoms include stiffness/rigidity, unilateral tremor mainly at rest, slow movement (Bradykinesia), and postural instability. In addition to these physical difficulties, psychological, nonmotor symptoms may include depression, lack of motivation, and anxiety, which are strongly associated with patients’ QoL (Davie, 2008; Jankovic, 2008). The array of symptoms as well as the rate of progression is unpredictable, but eventually PD patients become extremely limited, and need hands on assistance for daily living (Sveinbjornsdottir, 2016)
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