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Dance intervention improved cognitive function and quality of life in chronic stroke patients compared to control.

Dance intervention improved cognitive function and quality of life in chronic stroke patients compar…
Photo by FRANCESCO TOMMASINI / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Consider dance intervention for chronic stroke patients, noting small sample size and lack of safety data.

This single-blind, randomized controlled trial investigated the impact of a dance intervention on cognitive function and quality of life in patients with chronic stroke. The study enrolled 40 participants at X State Hospital. The intervention group received 60-minute dance sessions three times per week for 12 weeks under the guidance of a dance instructor, while the control group received standard care.

The primary outcomes assessed included SS-QOL sub-dimensions (energy activities, personality, social and family roles, thinking, language, mood) and MoCA scores. Results demonstrated significant improvements in SS-QOL sub-dimensions and MoCA scores for the dance intervention group compared to the control group. The direction of the effect showed improvement in the intervention group and deterioration in the control group, with a p-value of less than 0.001.

Safety and tolerability data were not reported in the study, including adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, or general tolerability. Limitations include the small sample size of 40 participants and the single-blind design, which may introduce bias. No specific funding or conflicts of interest were reported. The practice relevance is currently limited by the lack of long-term safety data and the need for replication in larger cohorts.

Study Details

Study typeRct
EvidenceLevel 2
Follow-up2.8 mo
PublishedApr 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effect of dance interventions on cognitive functions and quality of life in chronic stroke patients. METHODS: This research used a single-blind randomized controlled trial design involving 40 chronic stroke patients at X State Hospital who were divided into a dance intervention group and a control group. The dance group was given 60 min of sessions three times a week for 12 weeks under the guidance of a dance instructor. Both groups were pre-tested and post-tested using the Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). RESULTS: The dance intervention group experienced significant improvements in SS-QOL sub-dimensions (energy activities, personality, social and family roles, thinking, language, mood) as well as MoCA scores compared to the control group which had deteriorated over time (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Dance interventions can significantly improve cognitive function and quality of life among chronic stroke patients. The study was registered on Clinical Trials (NCT06145503).
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