The Role of Dance in Stroke Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review of Functional and Cognitive Effects

<b>Background:</b> Stroke remains a leading cause of long-term disability globally, frequently resulting in persistent motor and cognitive impairments. Rehabilitation is critical for promoting recovery, and dance-based interventions have emerged as a promising complementary approach. <b>Objective:</b> This scoping review aimed to examine the recent literature on the application of dance in stroke rehabilitation, with a particular focus on its effects on motor function (including balance and gait), cognitive performance, and quality of life. <b>Methods</b>: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across four electronic databases, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus, between January and March 2025. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they involved adult participants with a history of stroke, implemented dance-based rehabilitation interventions, and reported outcomes related to motor function, cognition, or psychosocial well-being. The review process adhered to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. <b>Results:</b> Of the 778 records initially identified, four studies met the inclusion criteria: two randomized controlled trials, one interventional study, and one feasibility study. Overall, dance-based interventions were associated with improvements in dynamic balance, gait coordination, and general mobility. Furthermore, the interventions demonstrated high levels of adherence and participant satisfaction. <b>Conclusions</b>: Dance-based rehabilitation may offer meaningful motor benefits for individuals recovering from stroke, particularly in improving balance, gait, and overall mobility. However, the heterogeneity of intervention protocols and the limited assessment of cognitive and psychosocial outcomes underscore significant gaps in the current literature. To establish the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of dance-based approaches, future research should prioritize high-quality randomized controlled trials employing standardized intervention designs and comprehensive outcome measures, including cognitive and quality-of-life domains.