Objective: Verify and compare the effects of a dance and walking program on spatiotemporal gait parameters in Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background: PD causes motor impairment, such as muscle stiffness, rest tremor, slow movements, postural instability, and gait and balance alterations; and non-motor factors, such as cognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders. Dance can be an important tool for complementary treatment of PD, when added to traditional drug therapies and physiotherapies.

Method: 18 participants with PD, divided non-randomized in two groups: dance group (DG; n = 12) and walking group (WG; n = 6). The instruments were patients personal data sheet, Hoehn and Yahr Scale (HY) and a kinematic gait analysis with software BTS Smart Clinic DX 7000 to evaluate spatiotemporal variables such as: step frequency (SF), step length (SL), stance time (StT), swing time (SwT), double support phase (DSP). The normality of descriptive data at the initial time of the research was verified through Shapiro-Wilk Test, using Wilcoxon Test for non-parametric data and paired t-test for parametric data. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) analysis was used to compare the DG and WG, pre and post intervention moments and time group interaction. A Bonferroni post-hoc was used to identify the differences between means in all variables. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20.0 was used to analyse the data. The significance level adopted for both tests was α <0.05.

Results: The two groups showed significant improvements after the intervention in relation to StT (Left leg CV, p = 0.0028); right leg FV, p = 0.009; left leg, FV p = 0.025), and SwT (left leg CV, p = 0,0028), at DSF (rigth leg FV, p < 0,001). The DG presented better results in comparison to the WG for the outcomes of SF (p = 0.011).

Conclusion: Both groups showed significant improvements after the intervention period, demonstrating that dance is as efficient than walking for spatiotemporal gait parameters in individuals with PD.

References: Monteiro, EP, et al. (2017). Aspectos biomecânicos da locomoção de pessoas com doença de Parkinson: revisão narrativa. Rev Bras Ciênc Esp, 39(4): 450-7. Hackney, M, & Earhart, G. (2010). Effects of dance on gait and balance in Parkinson’s disease: a comparison of partnered and nonpartnered dance movement. Neurorehabilit Neural Repair, 24(4): 384-92.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/effects-of-dance-and-walking-program-on-spatiotemporal-gait-parameters-in-parkinsons-disease/