DARE to move: feasibility study of a novel dance-based rehabilitation method in severe traumatic brain injury

ABSTRACT

Objective: Dance is a versatile and multimodal rehabilitation method, which may be useful also in traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation. Here, we assessed the feasibility and preliminary effects of a novel dance-based intervention called Dual-Assisted Dance Rehabilitation (DARE).

Method: This is a feasibility study with a cross-over design where 11 persons with severe/extremely severe TBI received a 12-week (2 times/week) DARE program. Motor and neuropsychological tests and questionnaires measuring mood, executive functions, and quality of life were performed at baseline, 3-month, and 6-month stage. Self-perceived benefits were assessed with a post-intervention questionnaire.

Results: Acceptability of and adherence to DARE were encouraging: 91% were fully consistent with protocol, and adherence to DARE sessions was 83–100%. Pre-post treatment effects sizes were medium-large for self-reported depression (BDI-II: d = 1.19–1.74) and executive deficits (BRIEF-A: d = 0.43–1.09) and for test-assessed trunk movement control (TIS: d = 0.47–0.76) and cognitive functioning (WAIS-IV subtests: d = 0.34–0.89). Other outcome measures did not show similar positive effect sizes. Self-perceived benefits were largest for mobility and cognition.

Conclusion: Dance-based rehabilitation is a feasible and promising method in severe TBI and its efficacy should be assessed with a larger clinical trial.

KEYWORDS:

• Dance rehabilitation
• traumatic brain injury
• mobility
• cognition
• mood

Acknowledgments

We warmly thank the persons with TBI who participated in the study as well as their family members and care staff members for their help in arranging the practicalities associated with the participation. We especially thank Validia Rehabilitation Helsinki for providing premises and support for the implementation of the intervention, Dr. Mari Tervaniemi for her help in planning the study protocol, and Mr. Mikael Turtiainen with whom dance-based rehabilitation was successfully utilized during his recovery from severe TBI and the positive experiences derived from this inspired the development of the DARE concept and the present pilot study.

Data availability statement

Anonymized data will be shared with qualified investigators on request.

Declaration of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by research grants from the Finnish Cultural Foundation [Grant no: 00150456], Social Insurance Institution of Finland [Grant no: 29/26/2014], and Emil Aaltonen Foundation as well as through proceeds from a charity gala called “Beat - Return to Life”.