A recent study done by a group of researchers from the University of Washington has proven that doing the tango can actually help people with Parkinson's disease. Those of you that are familiar with what Parkinson's disease is would know that it's a "degenerative disorder of the central nervous system" (the Orlando Sentinel). There is also a numerous amount of symptoms that come with having Parkinson's disease. One of the more critical of these symptoms is a loss of balance. Put two and two together and a dance like the tango, which requires a lot of balance, can be extremely challenging for people with Parkinson's. So how exactly can dancing the tango help these people? Well, first of all this "sexy" South American dance requires not only balancing skills but its long lengthy steps and movements creates its uniqueness. A person with Parkinson's disease has trouble with both of these factors. They have a hard time balancing, they fall often, and they walk in small steps and "shuffles". Doing the tango makes them move in a way that their bodies do the opposite of. People with Parkinson's also have a hard time thinking ahead and can sometimes freeze in the middle of doing something. However, in doing the tango they need to force themselves to think about what will come next and with the help of there partner there isn't much time for freezing or stopping.
Overall there has been two experiments done with Parkinson's disease and the tango. These researches have found that taking tango lessons has helped their everyday balance, walking, thinking, and it has even shown a slower progression of the disease itself. Perhaps the best improvement of them all is that people with Parkinson's have reported to have more confidence, more self-esteem, and more happiness. Is their anyone that you know with Parkinson's disease? Could you recommend a program like this to anyone? More nursing homes and churches are trying to put a Parkinson's Tango together. Is there any place that you can recommend this program to?
For most information and case studies check out these sites...
1 comment:
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