Parkinson's disease is considered the second most frequent neurodegenerative disease in
the world and is characterized by being chronic and progressive. Motor symptoms are
understood, but non-motor symptoms may be present and appear at different temporal
stages of the disease. Although pharmacological treatments are important to alleviate
PD symptoms, they are still limited and most often trigger side effects. Therefore,
therapeutic approaches that complement the pharmacological approach are increasingly
being investigated to assess their possible beneficial effects on symptomatology and
disease progression. Physical activity based on dance movements is emerging as a
therapeutic approach to a range of PD symptoms as it is a multidimensional activity that
requires rhythmic synchronization and more neuromuscular functions. To evaluate the
effects of physical activity based on dance movements on movement, executive
functions, depressive episodes and quality of life in individuals diagnosed with PD. 13
individuals with PD (8♀ 5♂), aged 65.9 ± 6.5 years (mean ± SD), Hoehn & Yahr stages
I to III, MDS-UPDRS 67.62 ± 20.83 (mean ± SD) performed two weekly sessions (50
min/session) of physical activity based on dance movements for six months. The
assessment protocols were performed pre and post-intervention, applying the POMA
test to assess movement, the FAB test to assess executive function and subdomains, the
MADRS test to assess depressive episodes, the PDQ-39 questionnaire to assess the
perception of quality of life and, finally, the MDS-UPDRS scale to assess the severity
of PD. Student's t test was used to compare pre- and post-intervention results of physical
activity based on dance movements. The significance level was 95% (p < 0.05). We
observed significant improvement in balance and gait by the POMA test, t (12) = 2.283,
p = 0.0207. Executive function by the FAB test, t (12) = 2.840, p = 0.0074, abstract
reasoning and inhibitory control by the subdomains of the FAB Conceptualization test, t
(12) = 2.941, p = 0.0062, and Inhibitory Control, t (12) = 2.920, p = 0.0064, showed
significant improvements between the pre- and post-intervention periods of physical
activity based on dance movements. Depressive episodes assessed by the MADRS test
significantly reduced, t (12) = 2.264, p = 0.0214, and the perception of quality of life by
the PDQ-39 had a significant increase after physical activity based on dance
movements, t (12) = 4.239, p = 0.0006. We did not observe significant changes in PD
severity. Physical activity based on dance movements has shown to have attenuating
potential in movement, executive functions, depressive episodes and quality of life in
PD, and may be effective in future rehabilitation. The characteristic elements of
physical activity based on dance movements such as rhythmic synchronization, more
cognitive-motor integration and social skills may have contributed to the results
obtained in this study.
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