Dance therapy in comprehensive rehabilitation of patients with Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

The most common neurodegenerative process in the population is Parkinson’s disease, which is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra of the striatopallidal complex. Recently, there is a certain tendency to increase the number of patients with Parkinson’s disease, which may lead to the growth of this nosological group in the next ten years by almost two times. The main clinical manifestations of Parkinson’s disease are akinesia, rigidity, tremor, postural instability and non-motor symptoms. Manifestations of the disease occur gradually and have a progressive development over time, being complicated by speech disorders and cognitive decline up to dementia, especially in the later stages. Treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, remains one of the most difficult problems of modern medicine. The rehabilitation protocol for the treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease includes the development of an individual plan of restorative therapy with the mandatory formation of a multidisciplinary team of specialists taking into account the personalized features of the course of the disease. In the initial stages, when the patient is sufficiently active and his professional competence and household skills are not significantly impaired, it is recommended to focus on increasing the volume of movements, their strength and endur ance. Kinesiotherapy is especially effective along with rhythmic music and is aimed at improving motor activity, muscle tone, and postural stability of patients with manifestations of extrapyramidal insufficiency. The use of elements of musical accompaniment has a significant positive emotional impact on the patient, helping to achieve the goals of the rehabilitation program. Music therapy as part of the restorative treatment is combined with elements of dance exercises. This approach is called dance therapy in the specialized literature. Dance therapy is especially effective in patients with extrapyramidal pathology, where the effect of dance exercises on muscle plasticity, symmetry of movements, general activity of patients and emotional component is more noticeable. Dance therapy for patients with extrapyramidal pathology usually includes dance movements aimed at restoring symmetry, coherence and plasticity. Movements with elements of waltz, tango, and foxtrot are considered the most effective dance styles. Locomotor exercises that imitate the basic movements of the cha-cha-cha, rumba, and paso doble dances are also effective. An individual program of dance therapy is developed by a multidisciplinary team of specialists, which includes choreography specialists.