More Than Movement: Exploring Motor Simulation, Creativity, and Function in Co-developed Dance for Parkinson's.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Science
• Arts and Health

Background:

• Dance offers potential benefits for individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) through intrinsic movement simulation.
• Current understanding of dance's impact on PD requires further exploration, particularly regarding co-designed programs.
• Collaborative approaches in designing health interventions can enhance relevance and effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the feasibility and potential benefits of a novel dance program for people with Parkinson's.
• To investigate the role of motor simulation (observation, imitation, imagery) within a creative dance context for PD.
• To assess the impact of a co-developed dance program on functional outcomes and quality of life in Parkinson's patients.

Main Methods:

• A 6-week pilot trial involving 10 individuals with Parkinson's disease.
• Program co-development by dance artists, researchers, physiotherapists, and people with PD.
• Inclusion of motor simulation techniques (observation, imitation, imagery) supported by creative elements.
• Focus group discussions (N=8) and exploratory outcome measures.

Main Results:

• The co-developed dance program demonstrated feasibility for individuals with Parkinson's disease.
• Participants' feedback highlighted the role of imagery, observation, and imitation in dance.
• Exploratory measures suggested potential improvements in motor simulation, functional dexterity, and quality of life.
• Creative elements within dance were linked to functional outcomes.

Conclusions:

• A co-designed dance program is feasible and potentially beneficial for people with Parkinson's.
• Creative dance approaches incorporating motor simulation may support functional improvements in PD.
• Collaborative design, including individuals with lived experience, is valuable for optimizing dance-based health programs.
• Future research should investigate motor simulation's role in developing transferable cognitive-motor skills in Parkinson's patients through dance.