Argentine tango dance holds potential to reduce the risk of falls in cancer survivors with neuropathy

Argentine tango dance holds potential to reduce the risk of falls in cancer survivors with neuropathy -

Dance as a form of therapy - especially the Argentine tango - has the potential to significantly improve balance and reduce the risk of falls among cancer patients with peripheral neuropathy, according to a new study by a multidisciplinary research team at Ohio State University.

The pilot study was funded by Pelotonia, a popular cycling event in Columbus, Ohio, which has raised more than $ 106 million for research efforts on cancer in the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Ohio State University - Arthur G. James cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove research Institute (OSUCCC of - James). Pelotonia stock and pre-med / major dance Mimi Lamantia worked with Lise Worthen-Chaudhari, a physical rehabilitation specialist who studies the movement to the Neurological Institute at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, to conduct the research study .

study addresses Prevalent Side effects of cancer treatment

Up to 70 percent of patients receiving chemotherapy will experience peripheral neuropathy as a side effect of cancer treatment . The condition can cause loss of sensation in the hands, fingers, feet and toes. One in 3 patients will still experience this issue six months after treatment.

The researchers say the long-term neuropathy in the feet and toes can be particularly problematic because it affects the balance and gait of a person. This puts them in a high risk of falling when they engage in daily living activities.

"This is a big problem because many more people survive cancer. Dealing with issues that impact on the quality of a person's life after cancer is extremely important," says Worthen -Chaudhari, a faculty member in the Department of the USO of physical medicine and rehabilitation. "As a dancer, I studied the art of movement and as a biomechanics and rehabilitation science, I studied mathematics and the science of motion. We thought it would be a powerful combination to bring everyone together to try help cancer survivors. "

To evaluate the effect of the practice of Argentine tango on the biomechanical risk predictors of falls in cancer survivors, Worthen-Chaudhari and Lamantia designed a dance intervention course that involved 20 sessions adapted Argentine Tango. Patients participated in a one-hour session twice a week for 10 weeks.

standing postural sway

Researchers measured patients (eyes closed) with a platform for computer aided strength early in the series of intervention of dance and at the end of the 10 weeks of instruction. They were also asked patients to report satisfaction with the intervention.

"So many patients tell us that it's hard to stay attached to physical therapy because it is difficult and feels like work. We show that the tango has measurable effects on balance -. but our patients really say enjoying the dance therapy as it is a fun and social way to do the work and our initial data shows it has a positive impact to restore balance, "says Lamantia who taught Argentine Tango in a class of about 30 cancer survivors in this study.

initial data of the first three patients who participated in the Argentine tango study will be presented on November 3 2016, at the annual meeting 2016 of the American Congress of rehabilitation medicine in Chicago, Illinois.

"We show that after only five weeks of Argentine tango, medial and lateral roll of the trailer fell by 56 percent indicating that this is a promising intervention to balance cancer survivors experiencing post processing deficiency balance "says Lamantia.

This work provides the first known evidence about whether cancer survivors find an intervention based on dance, Argentine tango, satisfactory and feasible for improving balance.

"as an educator of dance I have personally witnessed the immeasurable joy, confidence and a better quality of motion in each Argentine tango dancer in the 10 weeks," adds Lamantia.