Therapeutic Dance Intervention for Children With Cerebral Palsy
- Conditions
- Cerebral Palsy
- Interventions
- Other: Therapeutic Dance
- Registration Number
- NCT03681171
- Lead Sponsor
- Shlomit Aizik
- Brief Summary
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have motor impairments that make it challenging for them to participate in standard physical activity (PA) programs. There is a need to evaluate adapted PA programs for this population. Dance can promote coordination, posture, muscle strength, motor learning, and executive functioning. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and the effects of a new therapeutic ballet intervention specifically designed for children with CP on physiological and executive functions outcomes.
- Detailed Description
8 children with CP (9-14y/o; 75% female) participated in a six-week therapeutic ballet program. Participants had body composition (DXA), muscle strength (hand-grip dynamometer), habitual physical activity, gait and selective motor control functions, and executive function tasks before and after the intervention. Follow-up assessments of habitual physical activity, gait and executive functions were completed four to five week post-intervention.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 9
- Cerebral palsy spastic diplegia and/or hemiplegia
- Absence of health problems that would preclude participation in exercise
- Male or female age 9 - 15 years inclusive at the time of consent
- Minimum level of intellectual functioning (e.g., as determined by an IQ score of 80 or above or other education placement and testing indicating sufficient understanding)
- Ability to complete study measures at the assessment
- Ability to participate in dance classes conducted in English
- Interest in learning ballet
- Intact vision
- Intact hearing
- Able to ambulate independently in the community with or without a device
- Intact proprioception in lower extremities
- Able to complete assessment measures and consents in English
- Referral from the child's pediatrician or other physician indicating that the child is physically able to participate in an exercise intervention
- Children with a current diagnosis of severe Major Depressive Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Epilepsy
- Autism
- Other major medical conditions that prohibit full participation and children with severe developmental disorders (e.g., mental retardation, severe autism) or with physical impairments that prohibit full participation were excluded from the study.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- SINGLE_GROUP
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Children with CP Therapeutic Dance Children with CP (9-15 years old) participated in a therapeutic dance program to improve physical, physiological and cognitive outcomes.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Gait (GAITRite© system) 12 weeks Assessment before an immediately after six-week therapeutic ballet program and 4-5 weeks post intervention
Executive Functions measured by Hearts and Flowers Flanker Tasks 12 weeks Measures attention and working memory before an immediately after six-week therapeutic ballet program and 4-5 weeks post intervention.
Executive Functions measured by Stroop Colored Word Test 12 weeks Measures inhibitory control before an immediately after six-week therapeutic ballet program and 4-5 weeks post intervention.
Executive Functions measured by BRIEF (Parent Questionnaire) 12 weeks An 86-item questionnaire
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Body Composition Dual X-ray Absorptiometry, DXA scan before and after six-week therapeutic ballet program. 8 weeks Assessment of bone density
Muscle Strength 8 weeks Handgrip (evaluated maximum isometric strength (Kg) before and after six-week therapeutic ballet program.
CBC 8 weeks Includes hemoglobin measures for anemia and inflammation factors
Lipid Panel 8 weeks CVD risk factors (lipid screen ) before and after six-week therapeutic ballet program
Habitual Physical Activity assessment 12 weeks Physical activity was measured using ActiGraph accelerometers before and immediately after six-week therapeutic ballet program and 4-5 weeks post intervention.
Social and Emotional Functioning measured by Self-Efficacy Survey (Child) 8 weeks Measures individual perceptions of one's capacity to manage one's functioning and control over events before and after six-week therapeutic ballet program.
Social and Emotional Functioning measured by Self-Perception Profile for Children 8 weeks Measures Scholastic Competence, Athletic Competence, Social Competence, Physical Appearance, and Behavioral Conduct.
Social and Emotional Functioning measured by Positive Affect Survey. 8 weeks Measures feelings of pleasurable engagement with the environment (happiness, joy, excitement, engagement).
Social and Emotional Functioning measured by Perceived Stress Self-Report Scale 8 weeks Asks participants to rate how they have felt over the last month
Social and Emotional Functioning measured by Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) 8 weeks SDQ is a brief questionnaire that assesses children's emotional problems