The Effects of Irish Dance on Gait Function and Fall Reduction in Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease: A Feasibility Study

Background and/or Objectives: To determine feasibility of Irish Dance classes as a rehabilitative therapy modality for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) as well as examine the effects of Irish Dance on gait parameters, fall risk, mood, and quality of life.

Design: Interventional study.

Setting : Outpatient neurology and balance disorders clinic in rural Florida.

Participants : 13 participants over the age of 60. 5 participants with PD, 8 without PD. Mean age of 77 years. Average UPDRS stage 2.5.

Interventions: 4 weeks of once weekly, 1-hour Irish Dance classes.

Main Outcome Measures: GAITRite gait analysis with Fall Reduction Profile, Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9), Parkinson’s Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (PDQL), and adverse events such as falls or injury.

Results: No adverse events were reported. Significant differences between PD and non-PD participants pre-intervention included: ambulation time, cadence, step length for both left and right feet, stride length for both left and right legs, functional ambulation profile, normalized velocity, overall PDQL and PDQL sub-scores, and PHQ-9. PD participants showed a statistically significant decrease in the systemic symptoms sub-score of the PDQL. PD participants had significant increases in the standard deviations of left step length, left stride length, and right stride length (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: In our cohort, Irish Dance proved to be safe and well tolerated by participants. Significant gait and quality of life differences were noticed at baseline between PD and non-PD patients. Changes within PD participants showed promising results of the efficacy of Irish Dance as a balance and gait therapy modality. Larger future confirmatory studies are needed to support and verify findings of the effects of Irish Dance on gait, fall reduction, quality of life, and mood.