Movements that are similar to walking and its share of difficulties. For a person with Parkinson’s disease, dancing the Argentinian Tango would allow them to regain a better balance and improve their movements, according to a study by Professor Gammon M. Earhart, a neurologist at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
“Tango includes many movements that are difficult for a person with Parkinson’s disease to perform, such as turning,” she explains. “The more I think about it and the more it seems logical, a lot of falls take place when patients have to back up. When you dance the Tango and let yourself be guided, you dance in reverse and you have to find a strategy to do it. “, she adds.
Reduction of symptoms thanks to Tango
For her research, she spent a year studying 52 people with Parkinson’s disease who had problems with balance and movement. At the start of the study, everyone was doing the same level of physical activity. Then, half of the participants learned to dance the Tango, under the supervision of Dr. Earhart and his colleagues. The other half have kept their usual routine.
Result: those who practiced Tango regularly saw their symptoms decrease. They were able to walk longer, faster and had regained a better balance. In the other group, the symptoms did not progress or even increased. During the year, the Tango also brought benefits in the daily life of the participants. Thanks to this practice, they were more involved in household chores, shopping, but also hobbies.
To enjoy the beneficial effects, however, regular practice is required. Stopping the dance brings about the return of the symptoms which had diminished until then. But for Dr. Earhart, the playful side of Tango would allow you to continue with more pleasure than any other physical activity. “People are more likely to stick with it if they are having fun,” she explains.
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