title: Randomized controlled trial of community-based dancing to modify disease progression in Parkinson disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tango dancing has been effective in improving measures of physical function in people with Parkinson disease (PD). However, all previous studies were institution-based, tested participants on medication, and employed short-term interventions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of a 12-month community-based tango program for individuals with PD on disease severity and physical function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two participants were randomly assigned to a twice weekly, community-based Argentine Tango program or a Control group (no intervention). Participants were assessed off anti-Parkinson medication at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. The primary outcome measure was the Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale 3 (MDS-UPDRS-3). Secondary outcome measures were the MDS-UPDRS-1, MDS-UPDRS-2, MiniBESTest balance test; Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOG_Q); 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT); gait velocity for comfortable forward, fast as possible forward, dual task, and backward walking; and Nine-Hole Peg Test (9HPT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Groups were not different at baseline. Overall, the Tango group improved whereas the Control group showed little change on most measures. For the MDS-UPDRS-3, there was no significant change in the Control group from baseline to 12 months, whereas the Tango group had a reduction of 28.7% (12.8 points). There were significant group by time interactions for MDS-UPDRS-3, MiniBESTest, FOG_Q, 6MWT, forward and dual task walking velocities, and 9HPT in favor of the dance group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvements in the Tango group were apparent off medication, suggesting that long-term participation in tango may modify progression of disability in PD.
authors.affiliation: Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Gammon M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Earhart
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D003614:Dance Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology