Edorium Journal of Disability and Rehabilitation, cilt.2, ss.124-130, 2016 (Hakemli Dergi)
Aims: As stroke is a complex medical condition involving physical, psychological and cognitive impairments, and also causes restrictions in daily activities and social participation, its rehabilitation is very important, but challenging. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of therapeutic dance programs on walking ability and balance in post-stroke patients, when combined with botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injections and conventional rehabilitation program. Methods: A total of 51 post-stroke hemiplegic patients treated with BTX-A, who attended the conventional neurological rehabilitation program of the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic of Kocaeli University Medical School between November 2014 and December 2015, were included in this prospective, randomized, single center study. Patients were randomized as 1:1 into adapted tango classes (n = 27) and control group (n= 24). Clinical and functional outcomes were evaluated by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), BBS, and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests. Results: Patients in the tango and control groups were well-matched in age, gender, and stroke side during randomization. There were statistically significant improvements in the tango group in MAS (p = 0.002), in TUG (p<0.001), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) (p< 0.001) when compared with the control group, respectively (p<0.001, p=0.042, p<0.001). Balance improvement was more prominent in the tango group than in the control group (p= 0.003). Conclusion: Partner adapted tango dance therapy accompanying BTX-A injections may improve postural balance in ambulatory post-stroke patients, who are treated with the conventional rehabilitation program.