Perceived effects of Tango Argentino on body experience in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD)-A qualitative study with affected persons and their partners

Yvonne Beerenbrock; Lea Meyer; Juliane Böhme; Stephanie Herrlich; Sunnyi Mews; Bettina Berger; David Martin; Arndt Büssing

doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2019.102221

Perceived effects of Tango Argentino on body experience in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD)-A qualitative study with affected persons and their partners

Complement Ther Med. 2020 Jan:48:102221. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.102221. Epub 2019 Nov 26.

Authors

Yvonne Beerenbrock¹, Lea Meyer², Juliane Böhme³, Stephanie Herrlich³, Sunnyi Mews³, Bettina Berger⁴, David Martin⁴, Arndt Büssing⁵

Affiliations

¹ Professorship Quality of Life, Spirituality and Coping, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany. Electronic address: yvonne.beerenbrock@uni-wh.de.
² Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany. Electronic address: lea.meyer@uni-wh.de.
³ Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany.
⁴ Chair of Medical Theory, Integrative and Anthroposophical Medicine, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, Herdecke, 58313, NRW, Germany.
⁵ Professorship Quality of Life, Spirituality and Coping, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Germany. Electronic address: arndt.buessing@uni-wh.de.

PMID: 31987239
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.102221

Abstract

Background: Persons with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience somatic and psycho-emotional limitations. As a neurodegenerative disease with increasing motor symptoms, PD changes the body experience. Embodied activities like dancing are beneficial to individuals with PD regarding mobility, balance and body feeling. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of Tango Argentino (TA) on body experience in individuals with PD.

Methods: This qualitative study was conducted among 12 individuals with PD and their dance partners participating in TA courses for persons with PD and uses semi-standardized interviews. The heterogeneity of the sample was mainly based on the number of TA classes, so that participants were distinguished in participants with 10 h (beginners) and participants with more than 10 h (advanced). Further variance was due to different age groups and duration of disease.

Results: Participants reported change on five categories of body experiences: body awareness, motor symptoms and movement, general feelings, body sensations and disease-related feelings. Participants cited a shift in body awareness and improved stability, walking safety, enhanced mobility and amelioration in gestures and facial expressions. In general, participants described reduced body fatigue, anxiety, shame and frustration and increase in joy, pride, curiosity as well as reinforcement of partnership. With regard to perception, positive and negative feelings, ease, relaxation and increase of inner congruence were reported. The experience of normality and health helped to generate greater acceptance of disease burdens and to develop self-confidence and self-assurance. Dance partners confirmed the perceptions of the dancers with PD.

Conclusion: The perceived effects of TA courses may be linked to a positive body awareness and body control which may be related improved motor symptoms, social and everyday life. These perceived effects should be controlled in relation to the long time change in embodied activity and body experience in persons with PD.

Keywords: Body experience; Mobility; Parkinson’s disease; Tango Argentino.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Dance Therapy / methods*
Emotions
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Movement*
Parkinson Disease / psychology*
Parkinson Disease / rehabilitation*