AUTHOR=Swaine Bonnie , Poncet Frédérique , Lachance Brigitte , Proulx-Goulet Chloé , Bergeron Vicky , Brousse Élodie , Lamoureux Julie , McKinley Patricia 

TITLE=The Effectiveness of Dance Therapy as an Adjunct to Rehabilitation of Adults With a Physical Disability

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01963

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01963

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background/Objective:</bold> To determine the added benefit on participants’ mobility and participation of a 12-week dance therapy (DT) intervention combined with usual physical rehabilitation for adults with varied physical disabilities. Their appreciation of DT was also explored.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We conducted a quasi-experimental study pre–post test with a nonequivalent control group and repeated measurements pre, post, and at a 3-month follow-up.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Although participants in both groups significantly improved over time (at 12 weeks and at follow-up) compared to baseline on mobility (timed up and go, TUG) and participation (e.g., Life-H scores and number of leisure activities), treatment effect analysis using propensity score matching showed no significant treatment effect of DT. The TUG scores showed the best promise of a treatment effect. DT participants’ Flow State Scale scores significantly improved (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01) for 5/9 dimensions of flow (being in control, loss of self-consciousness), and they all recommended DT.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> This study failed to demonstrate an added benefit of the DT intervention in improving participants’ mobility and participation. Overwhelmingly, favorable participants’ opinions about the intervention support its potential impact.</p>