None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this feasibility study is to compare the effects of dance therapy in addition to usual care with conventional group-based physiotherapy in addition to usual care, on physical function in recently hospitalised adults with acquired brain injuries. Specifically the researchers of this study will examine the effect of dance compared with conventional physiotherapy therapy on physical function, mobility, self-efficacy, quality of life and satisfaction; understand patients’ preferences for dance therapy; and assess the acceptability, adherence and adverse events associated with a dance therapy program. A steering committee of consumers, dancers and the health service will co-design the dance therapy program and will meet bimonthly either face to face or online platform (given general health recommendations during the global pandemic) to discuss about the program. Adding dance to rehabilitation may have the potential to reduce hospital lengths of stay and return people to their homes earlier by enhancing motivation, providing additional opportunities for movement.
Interventions
A single blind randomised controlled trial will be conducted to determine if there is a difference in outcomes following an intervention using additional dance therapy plus usual care compared with additional conventional group-based physiotherapy plus usual care, and whether the effect is sustained at one month post discharge.
For the intervention, the researchers will collect patient preferences pre and post exposure to dance therapy. The participants in the treatment group will receive their
A single blind randomised controlled trial will be conducted to determine if there is a difference in outcomes following an intervention using additional dance therapy plus usual care compared with additional conventional group-based physiotherapy plus usual care, and whether the effect is sustained at one month post discharge. For the intervention, the researchers will collect patient preferences pre and post exposure to dance therapy. The participants in the treatment group will receive their usual daily rehabilitation therapies but will be offered three additional dance therapy sessions per week delivered in a group setting for a total of 10 weeks. The usual rehabilitation therapies include Balance and gait retraining, and physical exercises to maintain balance and pain management etc. The number of participants in each group is yet to finalise. The duration of each dance session will be 30 minutes. Classes will begin with a 5-7 minute warm-up in sitting transitioning to standing followed by dance skills and activities in pairs and in a circle. Participants will be able to dance in a seated position if required (e.g., recently admitted). Participants will not be asked to aim for a pre-specified level of intensity during the intervention sessions. The dance therapies will be co-led by freelance dancers and the physiotherapists targeting to improve balance, strength and endurance. Information on enrolment rates, attendance, participant satisfaction and adverse events will be collected to monitor adherence during the intervention. A co-design process will be undertaken with consumers (a seperate cohort of individuals prior patients who have suffered an acquired brain injury), dancers and therapists. Consumers will be shown an initial report of concept study at Hamsptead Rehabilitation Centre that found encouraging engagement between clients and dancers with qualitative reports that both groups understood the importance of “learning to move better”. A steering committee of consumers, dancers and the health service will meet bimonthly for one hour with a total of 6 sessions. The mode of delivery of co-design meetings will be face to face or online platform (given general health recommendations during the global pandemic) and the number of consumers in the meeting still to be finalised. The co-design process will occur after delivery of the intervention and will not affect the intervention that is delivered during this study. Information on enrolment rates, attendance, participant satisfaction and adverse events will be collected to monitor adherence during the intervention.
Sponsors
College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
The inclusion criteria for the participants are: i) Adults with an acquired brain injury. ii) Without significant receptive and expressive dysphasia and able to follow instructions. iii) Given medical clearance by the medical team. iv) Be able to perform sit-to-stand with only standby assistance and have been independently ambulating with or without mobility aid before this onset of disability. v) Have visual acuity of at least 6/18 as measured using the Snellen Chart. A number of units including the rehabilitation programs within the Southern Adelaide Health Service – the Rehabilitation inpatient unit (FMC) and the outpatient services, Home rehabilitation and Day Rehabilitation (FMC), outpatients at the State-wide Brain Injury service (which moves to Southern Adelaide in early 2022) will be participating to this research project.
Exclusion criteria
Adults with significant receptive and expressive dysphasia and not being able to follow instructions
Outcome results
None listed