Dance therapy in fibromyalgia: A narrative review

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology and Allied Health Sciences
• Psychosomatic Medicine
• Rehabilitation Therapies

Background:

• Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition affecting 2-8% of women aged 20-55, characterized by widespread pain and comorbidities.
• FM presents significant challenges in treatment due to its complexity and associated psychosocial factors.
• Non-pharmacological approaches, including dance therapy, are being explored as complementary management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the existing literature on the efficacy of dance therapy for fibromyalgia management.
• To evaluate the physical and psychosocial benefits of dance-based interventions in FM patients.
• To identify limitations and future research directions for dance therapy in FM.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of studies investigating dance therapy in fibromyalgia.
• Analysis of reported outcomes related to pain, mobility, quality of life, and emotional well-being.
• Assessment of intervention standardization and safety data.

Main Results:

• Dance therapy demonstrates positive effects on mobility, quality of life, and emotional well-being in FM patients.
• Therapeutic benefits include pain reduction, enhanced coping mechanisms, self-expression, and social connection.
• Current research is limited by non-standardized interventions and a lack of comprehensive safety evaluations.

Conclusions:

• Dance-based interventions show promise as an effective tool for managing fibromyalgia symptoms and improving overall well-being.
• Further research is essential to standardize dance therapy modalities and rigorously evaluate their safety and efficacy.
• Standardized dance therapy could lead to more holistic and effective treatment approaches for fibromyalgia.