Can a community-based Argentine tango programme increase social participation and quality of life of people with Parkinson's disease?

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.