Is there evidence of benefits associated with dancing in children and adults with cerebral palsy? A scoping review

Abstract

Purpose: Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder not only affecting motor functions but also cognitive and psychosocial dimension. Multispecialty therapies are needed to address these dimensions. Dance practice provides multidimensional benefits for people with various neurological disorders and may present a real potential for people with cerebral palsy. A scoping review is conducted to evaluate the impact of dance in children and adults with cerebral palsy, based on the Human Development Model–Disability Creation Process 2 and its three key concepts: personal factors, environmental factors and life habits.

Materials and methods: Studies were selected based on a systematic search of published literature in the following databases PubMed, Medline, EBM Reviews, EMBASE and CINAHL. Studies addressing any concepts on the impact of dance training on motor, cognitive and psychosocial dimensions in people with cerebral palsy were included.

Results: Seven studies representing 45 children and 12 adults with cerebral palsy were selected. They had heterogeneous populations, protocols and outcomes measures, but overall covered the three main concepts of the model. Dance may have both motor and social benefits although the evidence remains weak.

Conclusions: Dance appears to be a promising activity for people with cerebral palsy. Recommendations are proposed for future studies.

Implications for rehabilitation

• Cerebral palsy affects motor and cognitive functions and has social repercussions.

• Dance can be a promising activity for people with a cerebral palsy.

• Dance may have both motor and social benefits although the evidence remains weak.

Keywords:

• Dancing
• rehabilitation
• cerebral palsy
• review
• motor activity
• cognition

Acknowledgements

We thank the librarian Philippe Dodin from Sainte-Justine University Health Center for helping conducting the systematic literature search.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.