Can a community-based Argentine tango programme increase social participation and quality of life of people with Parkinson's disease?
Citation
(2016) Can a community-based Argentine tango programme increase
social participation and quality of life of people with Parkinson's disease?, no. 81.
Abstract
This paper will systematically explore and identify the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of
Argentine tango (AT) dancing as a form of rehabilitation for individuals with Parkinson's disease
(PD). PD is a progressive condition of the brain that affects 1 in 500 people. It predominantly
manifests through motor symptoms, such as slower movements, tremor and stiffness, but it can also
lead to psychological and cognitive difficulties. People with PD often report challenges with
participation in daily activities and social interaction. Furthermore, restrictions on participation among
people with PD have been linked with decreased overall satisfaction and quality of life (QoL).
Therefore, there is an increasing need for non-pharmacological therapies that address both motor and
affective difficulties due to this disease.
Argentine tango is an improvisational dance that involves complex physical and cognitive decisionmaking,
sequences of forward and backward movements, movement with and around others, musical
and visual cues and social interaction. Increasing evidence indicates that Argentine tango is a
beneficial form of dance for people with PD that can slow disease progression and can improve
balance and walking. There is also preliminary research indicating positive effects of tango beyond
physical improvements. Tango dancing has been correlated with some improvement in social
interaction, activity participation and satisfaction with life in individuals with PD.
The proposed research will explore the effectiveness of an eight-month community-based Argentine
tango programme on social participation and quality of life of people with PD. It will also evaluate
any changes in participants' satisfaction and mood. The researcher will recruit thirty participants from
Edinburgh and the surrounding area. Of those, fifteen will receive the tango intervention. It is hoped
that this process will generate knowledge and preliminary evidence on the psychosocial and
occupational benefits of this intervention.