A novel dance intervention program for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities: a pilot randomized...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Organized physical activity offers benefits, but research on its impact for individuals with developmental disabilities is limited.
• A pilot study explored the feasibility and effects of an undergraduate-led dance program for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities.
• The study assessed the dance program's influence on motor and social skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the feasibility of an online dance intervention for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities.
• To evaluate the program's impact on motor ability and social skills in this population.

Main Methods:

• A waitlist control clinical trial design was employed with participant randomization.
• Participants aged 4-17 with neurodevelopmental disabilities were included.
• Motor and social skills were assessed using the Motor Assessment Battery for Children Checklist and the Social Responsiveness Scale, respectively.
• The active group engaged in 10 weeks of online dance classes, while the control group waited.

Main Results:

• Forty-three participants with neurodevelopmental disabilities were recruited.
• The active group showed significant improvements in motor skills in unpredictable environments (p=0.05).
• Positive trends in social skills were observed but did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions:

• A fully digital dance intervention program is feasible for individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Significant changes in motor skills were detected after only 10 hours of low-intensity participation.
• Further research is necessary to fully ascertain the program's impact on social skills and overall outcomes.