Page 21 - Petelin, Ana, and Šarabon, Nejc. 2018. Eds. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Znanstvena monografija / Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 21
nce and Exercise as Therapy in Patients
with Parkinson’s Disease – Case Study
Kristina Drole, Petra Zaletel
University of Ljubljana Faculty of Sport, Gortanova ulica 22, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
Introduction: Dance has been used as therapy for different medical
conditions – physical and mental – for a number of years. The purpose of
this study was to find out how dance and exercise influence body posture
and certain motor and cognitive functions in a patient with Parkinson’s
disease (PD).
Methods: The subject was a 74-year-old man with PD. The data was
collected with PDQ-39 and a questionnaire about health, which was
composed on the basis of literature on PD. We used standard balance
tests, attention, memory and functional tests and postural assessment.
The workouts were scheduled two times per week for 8 weeks. The
length of a single session was 1.5 hours. Each session consisted of a seated
warmup with elements of contemporary dance and ballet, stretching
exercises for shortened and overworked muscle groups and strength
exercises for weak muscles. The dance part included dance moves that
were systematically upgraded to the point where the subject was able to
perform three Standard dances at the end of the program.
Results: We noticed improvements in all tests. The biggest improvement
was made in body posture, attention span and memory. The subject also
pointed out better overall feeling and less tiredness.
Discussion: Dance and exercise therapy turned out to be an efficient
asset to improve motor and cognitive functions. Stretching and strength
exercises that improve body posture and decrease muscle rigidity also
seem to be very effective in patients with PD.
Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, dance therapy, health, physical activity,
exercise
doi: https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-7055-18-4.21-30
with Parkinson’s Disease – Case Study
Kristina Drole, Petra Zaletel
University of Ljubljana Faculty of Sport, Gortanova ulica 22, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
Introduction: Dance has been used as therapy for different medical
conditions – physical and mental – for a number of years. The purpose of
this study was to find out how dance and exercise influence body posture
and certain motor and cognitive functions in a patient with Parkinson’s
disease (PD).
Methods: The subject was a 74-year-old man with PD. The data was
collected with PDQ-39 and a questionnaire about health, which was
composed on the basis of literature on PD. We used standard balance
tests, attention, memory and functional tests and postural assessment.
The workouts were scheduled two times per week for 8 weeks. The
length of a single session was 1.5 hours. Each session consisted of a seated
warmup with elements of contemporary dance and ballet, stretching
exercises for shortened and overworked muscle groups and strength
exercises for weak muscles. The dance part included dance moves that
were systematically upgraded to the point where the subject was able to
perform three Standard dances at the end of the program.
Results: We noticed improvements in all tests. The biggest improvement
was made in body posture, attention span and memory. The subject also
pointed out better overall feeling and less tiredness.
Discussion: Dance and exercise therapy turned out to be an efficient
asset to improve motor and cognitive functions. Stretching and strength
exercises that improve body posture and decrease muscle rigidity also
seem to be very effective in patients with PD.
Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, dance therapy, health, physical activity,
exercise
doi: https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-7055-18-4.21-30
