Dance intervention targeting motor, cognitive, and emotional components in stroke patients and their caregivers: a feasibility study

Introduction: This study aimed to co-create and assess the feasibility of a novel, museum-based contemporary dance intervention for post-stroke patients and their informal caregivers. The study explored the intervention's feasibility, safety, and preliminary effects on motor, cognitive, and psychosocial wellbeing for both patients and caregivers. Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed, starting with a co-creation focus group (n = 4 patients, n = 3 caregivers). This was followed by a single-arm, pre-post feasibility pilot. A total of 16 participants were recruited from a hospital rehabilitation unit. The final analyzed sample consisted of four patients and four caregivers. The intervention consisted of weekly 60-min dance classes conducted in a museum setting over 20 weeks. Feasibility indicators included recruitment/retention rates, attendance, and adverse events. Quantitative assessments of motor function, global cognition, and psychosocial wellbeing (burden and quality of life) were conducted at baseline and at 20 weeks. Results: The adapted dance intervention was highly acceptable with high attendance and satisfaction. In exploratory analyses, both patients and caregivers exhibited positive trends in global cognition. Caregivers showed slight improvements in wellbeing, though subjective burden remained unchanged. Descriptive observations suggested a potential decrease in gait imbalance among patients, while standing balance and spatiotemporal parameters remained stable. No adverse events were reported. Discussion: Preliminary evidence indicates a positive tendency toward the feasibility and acceptability of this dance intervention as a community-based tool for stroke rehabilitation. The museum setting and the dyadic nature of the intervention provide a promising environment for improving cognitive and motor outcomes. These preliminary findings indicate that integrating dance into rehabilitation shows promise in terms of safety and potential benefits for both patients and caregivers, warranting further investigation in a larger controlled trial.