Dance interventions for individuals post-stroke - a scoping review

There is a growing body of literature assessing the potential benefits of dance for individuals post-stroke.

We conducted a scoping review mapping the state of the literature on feasibility, intervention procedures, and efficacy of dance to improve health-related outcomes for individuals post-stroke.

Included studies were original research that described the use of a dance intervention for individuals post-stroke, included any health-related outcome, and were written in English.

Databases selected were Pubmed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Proquest, MedRxiv, and CINHAL.

Two reviewers extracted relevant data and results were organized into themes and categories determined by all authors through discussion.

We searched electronic databases were in February 2021. We included 18 publications from 14 studies. Ten were quantitative, five were qualitative, one was mixed-methods, and two were community project descriptions. Twelve publications evaluated in-person dance classes and six evaluated dance exergaming. Based on the limited studies included, evidence suggests dance is a feasible and potentially effective intervention for individuals post-stroke. Studies demonstrate dance may facilitate changes in balance and fall risk, encourage confidence, promote comfort with the changed body, increase rehabilitation motivation, and facilitate community reintegration. Evidence is limited by number of studies, design (lack of control groups and blinded assessments), intervention descriptions, and outcomes reporting.

There is growing interest in dance for stroke interventions. Further research should focus on rigorous study design, optimal intervention timing, consistency of reporting outcomes, key elements of dance classes, and the impact of cultural dance styles.