Author(s) :

Bella Brumana.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

While the physical impairments of multiple sclerosis are commonly acknowledged and targeted for treatment, cognitive impairments, including executive function deficits, often receive less recognition. Although pharmacological treatments are the main form of disease mitigation, non-pharmacological therapies are another promising management method that can address both cognitive and physical deficits. Dance movement therapy is an emerging intervention that has been commonly used in neurodegenerative disease rehabilitation, multiple sclerosis included. This literature review examines the effect of dance movement therapy on executive functions in multiple sclerosis patients through the analysis of four key studies that implemented varying dance modalities with some emphasis on executive function measures. Despite differences in the methodology, duration, and type of cognitive assessments, all four studies demonstrated executive function improvements which can suggest that the memorization of choreography, coordination, and dual tasking involved in dancing contribute towards executive function engagement. While these are promising findings, this review also emphasizes the need for more research that can incorporate larger sample sizes and various executive function standardized measures to obtain a better understanding of the benefits of dance movement therapy for multiple sclerosis.