Dance Therapy and Balance in Parkinson’s Disease

Authors

• Devjja Vaibhavkumar Joshi, New York Institute of Technology - Old WestburyFollow
• Arpita Milind Bedarkar, New York Institute of Technology - Old WestburyFollow
• Matthew Benavides, New York Institute of Technology - Old WestburyFollow
• Olivia Evola, New York Institute of Technology - Old WestburyFollow
• Amerigo Rossi, New York Institute of Technology - Old WestburyFollow

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Parkinson’s disease (PD) commonly impairs balance, gait, and functional mobility, reducing independence and quality of life. Dance-based interventions are increasingly used as complementary rehabilitation strategies because they combine rhythmic cueing, postural challenge, cognitive engagement, and social participation. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of dance-based interventions on balance and functional mobility in individuals with PD. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, ProQuest, and Scopus databases. Sixteen studies involving 570 participants (281 women, 289 men) met the inclusion criteria. Dance modalities included Argentine tango, Irish set dancing, Sardinian folk dance, Yang-ge, Biodanza, Ballroom Dance, Kathak, Virtual Reality Dance, and Adapted Dance Therapy. Outcomes focused on Tinetti, Functional Reach (FRT), miniBEST, One Leg Standing (OLS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). RESULTS: Across the included studies, the session duration was 66±20 minutes; interventions were performed 2.3±1.2 times per week for 10 weeks median intervention. Mean TUG improved from 11.5±2.6 seconds to 10.1±2.7 seconds, with -1.4±1.3 s improvement. Mean BBS improved from 47.7±3.8 to 50.6±2.2, with an average change of 2.8±2.5 points. Among controlled comparisons, 2 studies showed significant improvement in TUG relative to control, while 5 studies demonstrated significant improvement in at least one balance measure relative to control. Most studies reported improvements in functional mobility, motor severity, and selected balance outcomes, while several also showed gains in cognition, mood, and quality of life. However, findings were limited by heterogeneity in dance modality, intervention dosage, comparator groups, and incomplete reporting of raw data. CONCLUSION: Dance-based interventions appear to be a promising complementary therapy for individuals with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease, with the strongest evidence supporting improvements in functional mobility and balance. Longer studies with complete outcome reporting are needed to clarify the relative effectiveness of different dance modalities.

Recommended Citation

Joshi, Devjja Vaibhavkumar; Bedarkar, Arpita Milind; Benavides, Matthew; Evola, Olivia; and Rossi, Amerigo (2026) "Dance Therapy and Balance in Parkinson’s Disease," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 15: Iss. 8, Article 22.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol15/iss8/22