Investigation of the effect of dance therapy on balance, risk of falls, body awareness and functionality in females with chronic low back pain

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dance therapy on balance, risk of falls, body awareness and functionality in females with chronic low back pain. Forty females were divided into two groups and randomly allocated to either the dance therapy group or the control group. The dance therapy group received an individualized dance therapy programme consisting of choreographies from different dance genres three days per week for eight weeks. The control group received a conventional exercise training programme for a total of 20 sessions. All participants underwent assessments at the beginning, middle, and end of their respective programmes. The short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire was employed for pain assessment. Functionality was evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index, while body awareness was measured using the Body Awareness Rating Questionnaire. The Timed Up and Go test and the Y balance test were employed for the assessment of the risk of falls and balance, respectively. Both groups were asked to rate their satisfaction with the treatment on an 10-point Likert scale after completion of the treatment. Significant improvements were found in all parameters tested in both groups after completion of the treatments (p < 0.05). However, the dance therapy programme was more effective than conventional treatment in improving functionality, body awareness, balance, and pain and reducing the risk of falls (p < 0.05). The results indicated that satisfaction with treatment was greater in the dance therapy group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Dance therapy can be an effective treatment for patients with chronic low back pain, improving balance, body awareness, functionality, and reducing the risk of falls. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.