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Evidence Based Practice

Audrey E. Cutler

University of Utah, Recreational Therapy

Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Professor Chad Romoser

19 November 2023
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As a former pre-professional Ballerina, immersed in the dance world for eighteen years, I

recognize the impact dance has on social, physical, psychological, and cognitive well-being.

Across diverse cultures and societies, dance has been an integral part of human expression for

millennia. This led me to think about how dance might contribute to enhancing the quality of life

for individuals with developmental disabilities, particularly Down syndrome.

In a recent pilot study, "Adaptive Dance Improves Motor Abilities and Participation with

Down Syndrome," six children participated in twenty weekly one-hour adaptive dance sessions.

The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and Gross Motor Function Measure

(GMFM) were administered before and after the program, and primary caregivers were

surveying observations. The article aims to prove that after Dance therapy intervention, Children

with Down Syndrome have improved their quality of life, motor abilities, and participation.

This research study focuses on individuals with Down syndrome as the targeted population. The

intervention under investigation is dance classes, specifically aimed at understanding the impact

on participants' motor skills and social abilities. The research aims to compare outcomes before

and after the dance classes, seeking to ascertain discernible improvements in motor skills and

social abilities over a twenty-week timeframe. Structured around the Population, Intervention,

Comparison, Outcome (PICO) framework, this research seeks to contribute valuable insights into

the potential benefits of dance interventions for individuals with Down syndrome, shedding light

on the long-term effects of such programs on both motor and social development.

The researchers facilitated the study by incorporating The Ballet Moves program, an

adaptive dance initiative for children with special needs. Developed by professional ballerinas in

collaboration with physical therapists at a pediatric medical center, the program consisted of

twenty weekly one-hour classes led by an experienced ballet faculty member. The program
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aimed to promote creative expression, correct choreography in body positions, balance, and

effective behavioral management, integrating creative movement and traditional ballet

techniques. Parental feedback and pre and post-tests administered by experienced physical

therapists were utilized for evaluation.

The results were remarkable. Despite scheduling conflicts, participants attended an

average of 17 out of 20 sessions. Scores on dimensions of gross motor function abilities

indicated improvements in standing, walking, running, and jumping post-trial. Parental

qualitative feedback highlighted physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits, with improved

strength, stamina, balance, coordination, cognitive skills, emotional well-being, and social skills.

Parental qualitative feedback was also given in the physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits

categories. One parent said there was added "strength in leg and foot works. Stamina; he can run

a longer distance and make more consecutive jumps."

Cognitive benefits were also said to have improved from parental observations. One

parent said there was an improvement in "Following directions, growing independence,

counting, and attention span seems to have lengthened with fewer escapes." Parents also saw

emotional benefits from the trial. One parent said, "This ballet class was a big step to expose him

to a new environment and people. His social skills are much better than three months ago. I was

also surprised to see that he remembers certain ballet routines. Before he started the ballet, he

could not relax and calm himself down, always running around. However, ballet helped him to

learn how to relax." Another parent said, "class helps her to learn respect for others, discipline,

and being in a group. I am sure this helps in other areas of her life- home and school."

These quotes from parents and data findings are consistent with the hypothesis that an

adaptive dance program meeting once per week for twenty weeks improves gross motor abilities
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in children with Down Syndrome. "Our results are also consistent with motor growth curves,

which indicate that for children with DS during the first six years of life, scores improved the

fastest at younger ages and then leveled off as the predicted upper limit of gross motor function

is approached” (Division of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy).

Conclusively, this study has provided more data for future clinicians and community

organizations to enhance the quality of life for those with developmental disabilities. These

findings align with the hypothesis that an adaptive dance program, meeting once per week for

twenty weeks, improves gross motor abilities in children with Down syndrome. In Recreational

Therapy, dance therapy can be instrumental in addressing the five domains of individuals and

clients with intellectual or developmental disabilities. This pilot study demonstrates

improvements in cognitive, emotional, and physical aspects but also emphasizes the joy

experienced by clients and their families. As this study is conducted with a few people, it would

be beneficial to collect more data with a more significant number of people. However, the

information from this analysis is worthy of proving that dance intervention is a therapeutic

technique proven to help individuals with Down Syndrome.

Implementing dance therapy for individuals with Down syndrome requires thoughtful

planning and consideration of potential challenges. Collaboration between dance professionals,

therapists, educators, and caregivers is crucial to successfully integrating dance therapy into

community centers, schools, or healthcare facilities.

REFERENCES

Division of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy (Ms McGuire and Drs Long and Bailes)

and Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (Dr Esbensen), M., Michelle PT, MPT; Long,

Jason PhD; Esbensen, Anna J. PhD; Bailes, Amy F. PT, PhD, PCS. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://journals.lww.com/pedpt/fulltext/2019/01000/adapted_dance_improves_motor_abilities_and.17.asp