Dance therapy may offer a powerful and engaging alternative to traditional physical therapy for adolescents with cerebral palsy who are at risk for increasingly sedentary lifestyles. This compelling case study examined a 15-year-old girl with cerebral palsy (GMFCS Level II) who participated in twice-weekly Informal Dance Intervention sessions over 32 weeks, incorporating waltzing, contra dancing, square dancing, and belly dancing into her treatment plan. The results were remarkable: the patient demonstrated decreased waist circumference, increased walking speed on standardized tests including the 6-Minute Walk Test and Timed Up and Down Stairs, improved balance confidence on the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, and enhanced vestibular functioning measured by the Functional Gait Assessment. The 60-minute sessions focused on building timing, endurance, core strength, and vestibular function in a motivating, social context that kept the participant engaged throughout the intervention period. For physical therapists working with adolescents with cerebral palsy, this evidence suggests that incorporating dance-based activities into treatment plans may not only improve functional outcomes but also combat the tendency toward sedentary behavior that often emerges during the teenage years.
Alumni News
Informal Dance Intervention Improves BMI and Functional Gait in an Adolescent With Cerebral Palsy
