It has been demonstrated that the cerebellum plays a key role in controlling voluntary movements including body balance and posture. The present study examined the effects of dance-based exercise therapy program on relearning of balance and locomotion...
It has been demonstrated that the cerebellum plays a key role in controlling voluntary movements including body balance and posture. The present study examined the effects of dance-based exercise therapy program on relearning of balance and locomotion ability in an individuals with cerebellar disease. A male patient (39 years old) with severe cerebellar atrophy who shows ataxic movement disorders participated in 1½-hour of adapted tango lessens 3 times per week, completing 24 lessons within 8 weeks. The results indicated that the participant exhibited improvements of normal walking and functional gait ability. More specifically, step width was decreased while step length, single stance time, gait speed and balance time were increased after the intervention. In addition, the participant improved on freezing time, pre-obstacle distance and crossing velocity during the obstacle crossing task. This case study suggests that a dance-based exercise therapy program may positively influence on the recovery of gait and balance ability for those who suffer movement disorders due to cerebellar disease.