Is Irish set dancing feasible for people with Parkinson's disease in Ireland?

To investigate if community-based Irish set dancing is feasible in Irish adults with Parkinson's disease.

Over an eight week period, ten participants attended one set dancing class per week and completed a home programme in parallel. Feasibility was assessed by monitoring adverse effects, participants' verbal feedback, compliance rates and feedback from an exit questionnaire. Participants were assessed using the Berg balance scale, 6-min walk test, UPDRS-3 and PDQ-39, before and after the intervention.

No adverse effects were detected. Attendance at classes was 86%. Compliance with the home programme was 67%. Findings from the exit questionnaire showed participants enjoyed participating and reported improvements in aspects of health including balance. Quality of life improved with the dance programme and there was a trend toward improvement on the UPDRS-3.

These findings suggest community-based Irish set dancing is a feasible form of exercise that can positively influence quality of life.