Effects of Cha-Cha dance training on fall-related physical performance and cognitive function in patients with Parkinson’s disease: A feasibility study

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the feasibility and preliminary outcome trends of a 12-week structured Cha-Cha dance training program on balance-related performance, fall-related functional indicators, and cognitive function in patients with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease. METHODS: Fourteen participants with PD (Hoehn and Yahr stages 1-3, aged 55-75 years) were recruited. While maintaining their routine pharmacological treatment, participants engaged in a 12-week intervention consisting of two 1.5-hour sessions per week focused on basic Cha-Cha dance steps. Balance function was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Single-Legged Closed-eyed Standing Test (SCST), and the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT). Cognitive function was evaluated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA), the Stroop Color-Word Task, and the Flanker Task. This pilot feasibility study used a single-group pre-post design. Pre- and post-intervention data were compared using paired-sample t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. RESULTS: After the 12-week intervention, participants showed statistically significant improvements in several balance-related and cognitive outcomes. BBS scores increased significantly (before: 37.57 ± 4.48, after: 40.00 ± 4.47 and p = 0.001); SCST duration on both legs increased significantly (p < 0.05); and TUGT completion time decreased significantly (before: 12.98 ± 1.39 s, after: 10.16 ± 1.05 s and p < 0.001). Total MoCA scores also increased (before: 23.86 ± 2.74, after: 26.07 ± 1.98, p < 0.001), with particularly marked improvements in attention and delayed recall (p < 0.05). In the Stroop task, accuracy improved by 15% and response time decreased by 15%; in the Flanker task, accuracy improved by 27% and response time decreased by 9%. Both accuracy improvements and response time reductions were statistically significant (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this single-group pilot feasibility study, a 12-week structured Cha-Cha dance training program appeared to be a safe and feasible non-pharmacological intervention for individuals with mild-to-moderate PD. The observed changes may indicate preliminary improvements in balance-related performance, fall-related functional indicators, and selected cognitive outcomes; however, in the absence of a control group, these findings should be interpreted as indicative rather than confirmatory evidence. Larger controlled studies are needed to determine efficacy.