Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common, disabling, brain condition. The person can show slowness and stiffness of movement, tremors and postural instability. The disease is  slowly progressive. The available treatment   affords symptomatic relief from these symptoms..

Physical exercise is associated with not only a lower risk of developing PD but improves disease symptoms, mobility, balance, gait and quality of life in patients with PD.

Dance for Parkinsons disease shows very promising results for improvement in both motor and non motor symptoms of PD. Dance music with time structure has a profound effect of rhythm on the motor system.  Some mechanisms that may account for the improvements noted with dance therapy include external cuing derived from  either the music,  from the partner or the facilitator, as well as specific movements incorporated in the form of dance.

The specific exercises of dance  have been found to yield improved overall functional fitness, with improved quality of life and emotional domain.  Thus patients with Parkinsons disease who participated in dance class may have apparent improvement even off the medications. Watch out for one of our community commitment programs! Dance for Parkinson’s Disease!