Clinical Research Directory

Parkinson Ballroom Fitness: The Impact of Personalized Dance on Motor- and Nonmotor Symptoms in People With Parkinson's

Parkinson Ballroom-Fitness (PB-Fit) is a group-based dance program developed for people with Parkinson's disease. Through music and movement at three different levels (seated, standing, and walking), participants work on balance, gait, strength, and coordination, while also experiencing joy, social connection, and renewed vitality. The purpose of the present research project is to investigate whether seven weeks of PB-Fit training can improve gait and balance and enhance well-being and quality of life, and whether any effects are maintained twelve weeks after the intervention ends. The study is a randomized controlled trial with approximately forty participants and is conducted in collaboration with the Danish Parkinson's Association. The PB-Fit program is based on dance styles such as waltz, swing, and Latin, and is individually adapted. Training takes place in small groups, where participants learn basic steps and work with both motor and cognitive challenges. The program is evidence-informed but lacks quantitative evaluation, which is the aim of this study. PB-Fit is more than training-it is a community rooted in music, smiles, and meaningful relationships, where people with Parkinson's disease, regardless of functional level, are given the opportunity to experience joy, strength, and hope. This was clearly illustrated in the TV2 documentary "As Long as We Dance," in which several participants on the trip to Mallorca described their enthusiasm and the meaningfulness of PB-Fit. The study is led by Associate Professor Martin Langeskov Christensen, PhD (Regional Hospital Viborg), in collaboration with Aarhus University and dance instructor Elisabeth Dalsgaard. The results will be published in an international scientific journal and shared with both professionals and participants. Support from the Jascha Foundation will enable the study to be carried out and provide people with Parkinson's disease access to a meaningful, joyful, and evidence-based form of exercise. The long-term goal is to expand PB-Fit nationally and establish it as a permanent training option within municipalities and patient organizations across the country.

Comparison Between Conventional Rehabilitation and Conventional Rehabilitation Through Dance in Patients With COPD

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is recognized as one of the most relevant conditions worldwide, due to its high morbidity and mortality. Patients classified by GOLD as groups B and E are strongly encouraged to participate in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs. Dance has been shown to be equally or, at times, more effective as a rehabilitation strategy when compared to other types of physical activity. Objective: To compare the effect of conventional rehabilitation and the effect of conventional rehabilitation added to dance in patients with COPD. Methods: This is a conventional randomized controlled clinical trial to be carried at the Piquet Carneiro University Polyclinic, Rio de Janeiro. Patients diagnosed with COPD will be evaluated. Eligible participants will complete specific questionnaires and tests. Finally, participants will be randomly divided into two groups: one group will perform conventional PR twice a week and the other group will perform rehabilitation through dance twice a week using 2 different playlists. The music will be from nationally and internationally known artists during 8 weeks. The evaluation tests will be repeated at the end of the intervention. Expected results: It is expected that the group of individuals with COPD who perform rehabilitation through dance will obtain greater and better results in relation to exercise capacity, QoL and peripheral muscle strength when compared to the group that will carry out the intervention consisting of two days of conventional PR. Keywords: Dance; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Muscle strength; Quality of life; Rehabilitation.

Aerobic Dance During Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients With Cognitive Impairment

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about breast cancer patients. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does Aerobic Dance During Chemotherapy Improve Cognitive Function in Breast Cancer Patients？ * Does the efficacy of aerobic dance differ from fast walking of equal intensity？ Recruited patients will be randomly assigned to three groups: (1) aerobic dance group, (2) fast walking group, and (3) usual care group. The aerobic dance and fast-walking groups participated in supervised exercise lasting 50 minutes thrice a week for 12 weeks. The goal of this study's findings is to develop practical strategies for managing breast cancer-related cognitive impairment.