Dance intervention targeting motor, cognitive, and emotional components in stroke patients and their caregivers: a feasibility study.

Introduction: This study aimed to co-create and assess the feasibility of a novel, museum-based contemporary dance intervention for post-stroke patients and their informal caregivers. The study explored the intervention's feasibility, safety, and preliminary effects on motor, cognitive, and psychosocial wellbeing for both patients and caregivers. Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed, starting with a co-creation focus group ( Results: The adapted dance intervention was highly acceptable with high attendance and satisfaction. In exploratory analyses, both patients and caregivers exhibited positive trends in global cognition. Caregivers showed slight improvements in wellbeing, though subjective burden remained unchanged. Descriptive observations suggested a potential decrease in gait imbalance among patients, while standing balance and spatiotemporal parameters remained stable. No adverse events were reported. Discussion: Preliminary evidence indicates a positive tendency toward the feasibility and acceptability of this dance intervention as a community-based tool for stroke rehabilitation. The museum setting and the dyadic nature of the intervention provide a promising environment for improving cognitive and motor outcomes. These preliminary findings indicate that integrating dance into rehabilitation shows promise in terms of safety and potential benefits for both patients and caregivers, warranting further investigation in a larger controlled trial.