Title of Research
The Effects of Dance Therapy on Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: An Integrative Literature Review
Start Date
18-8-2017 10:00 AM
End Date
18-8-2017 11:30 AM
Abstract
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive, degenerative disease of the nervous system that affects more than one million Americans. Individuals who have PD generally exhibit bradykinesia, postural instability, shuffling steps and freezing during gait. These impairments in motor function cannot be fully addressed with pharmacological treatment and can eventually become unresponsive to this form of treatment. Dance therapy, on the other hand, is one non-pharmacological method that may prove beneficial for PD. It utilizes motor planning skills, which can lead to an improvement in muscle flexibility and balance. The purpose of the systematic integrative literature review was to explore and analyze research to determine whether or not dance therapy has an effect on the functional mobility and quality of life of individuals with Parkinson’s disease. The literature was analyzed using ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health source, PubMed and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) Complete databases. The terms that were searched while researching the topic include: Parkinson’s disease, dance therapy, quality of life, motor function, and gait and balance. The results of this literature review suggest that dance therapy may positively impact functional mobility, motor function and quality of life in PD patients. It is still unclear if anti-Parkinson medications affects these results. Future research should be explored to assess if dance therapy is effective while patients are both on and off anti-Parkinson medications and associated long-term effectiveness.
Keywords: Parkinson's disease; dance therapy; functional mobility; quality of life
Included in
Cognitive Neuroscience Commons, Neurology Commons, Nursing Commons
The Effects of Dance Therapy on Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: An Integrative Literature Review
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive, degenerative disease of the nervous system that affects more than one million Americans. Individuals who have PD generally exhibit bradykinesia, postural instability, shuffling steps and freezing during gait. These impairments in motor function cannot be fully addressed with pharmacological treatment and can eventually become unresponsive to this form of treatment. Dance therapy, on the other hand, is one non-pharmacological method that may prove beneficial for PD. It utilizes motor planning skills, which can lead to an improvement in muscle flexibility and balance. The purpose of the systematic integrative literature review was to explore and analyze research to determine whether or not dance therapy has an effect on the functional mobility and quality of life of individuals with Parkinson’s disease. The literature was analyzed using ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health source, PubMed and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) Complete databases. The terms that were searched while researching the topic include: Parkinson’s disease, dance therapy, quality of life, motor function, and gait and balance. The results of this literature review suggest that dance therapy may positively impact functional mobility, motor function and quality of life in PD patients. It is still unclear if anti-Parkinson medications affects these results. Future research should be explored to assess if dance therapy is effective while patients are both on and off anti-Parkinson medications and associated long-term effectiveness.
Keywords: Parkinson's disease; dance therapy; functional mobility; quality of life