Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of Ballet-Based Group Dance Intervention in Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Group-based dance interventions (GBDIs) have emerged as a promising approach to rehabilitation for neurological disorders. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary effects of a GBDI on motor function, cognition, fatigue, and quality of life in individuals with Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). Methods: The intervention consisted of two 60-min ballet sessions per week over 10 weeks, structured as 10 min of warm-up, 40 min of ballet exercises, and 10 min of stretching. Assessments were conducted at baseline (T0) and post-intervention (T1). Concerning motor measures, balance was assessed using the Mini-BESTest; gait performance was evaluated through the 6-min walk test (6MWT), four square step test (FSST), and figure-of-8 walk test (F8WT); upper limb motor functions were assessed using the box and block test (BBT) and 9-hole peg test (9HPT). Regarding cognitive functions, the Rey auditory verbal learning test (RAVLT), symbol digit modalities test (SDMT), and trail making test A and B (TMT-A/B) were administered, while fatigue and quality of life were assessed using the modified fatigue impact scale (MFIS) and the Short Form survey-36 (SF-36), respectively. Results: At T1, participants improved in Mini-BESTest (+17.5%), 6MWT (+7.3%), and BBT dominant hand (+6.9%). Performance also improved on the following cognitive tests: RAVLT Immediate Recall (+5.9%), RAVLT Delayed Recall (+20.3%), SDMT (+47.4%), TMT-A (−21.2%), and (TMT-B −24.5%). Conclusions: The very small sample size (n = 4) and the lack of a control group probably restrict the generalizability of the findings. Consequently, the results obtained by this pilot study should be considered exploratory and hypothesis-generating rather than definitive evidence of a robust benefit. Future studies should confirm these findings by enlarging the intervention cohorts and adopting a randomized controlled design. In this sense, a 10-week GBDI may provide a solid base for a safe and promising dance-based rehabilitation program that could lead to improvements in motor, cognition, and psychosocial spheres in people with RRMS.