Dance Therapy Research Paper
and 230.100 ROUGH DRAFT #2 Charlotte Wright
Dance Therapy as a Treatment for Disabilities and Disorders in Young People
When Amy arrives to dance class, she is always full of energy, leaping about and chatting away to each and every one of her class mates. When Amy leaves dance class, she is relaxed, placid, and seemingly peaceful. The next week, the same thing happens. While Amy, who was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at the age of seven, has only been attending my dance class for six weeks, I can already see that dancing has the ability to calm her hyperactivity, tire her energetic body, and affect her self-esteem. My personal experience with Amy has interested me in the benefits of dance and movement …show more content…
as a form of therapy. In particular, young people with disabilities or disorders, such as ADHD and Down Syndrome. This essay will look at the effects of dance and movement based therapy on young people with disabilities and disorders, and analyse how this method is more beneficial than other modes of treatment, such as medication, which can have serious side effects.
According to the American Dance Therapy Association, “dance therapy has been around for more than 50 years and helps connect the body and mind. It’s also effective for individuals with developmental, physical, social, psychological or physiological impairments.” Dance and movement based therapy has been a relatively recent approach to treatment of disorders and disabilities in young people. The development of motor skills and cognitive functions in young people can be altered or slowed down, if they are subject to a disability or disorder (Claros and Alvare, 2012). Many young people living with disabilities such ADHD, or disorders such as Down Syndrome, have delays in either or many of mental, social and physical growth. Many types of therapy as well as different physical activities have been trialed and tested on such people, including musical therapy, dance therapy, martial arts participation and team sport participation. Dance and movement therapy has been proven to be a particularly beneficial form of therapy for these people, offering improvements in mental focus and concentration, as well as physical aspects such as balance and co-ordination. As this type of therapy involves movement of the limbs, stretching of the muscles, listening to timing of music and communication skills, both the left and right sides of the brain and stimulated, resulting in a variety of positive impacts on brain and body health.
Dance, as well as other forms of exercise, can provide a valuable outlet for excess energy. Young people with ADHD, due to their disability, often have excess energy that needs to be released. The journal article, The Effect of Dance Practice on Health (2011), argues that dance is a therapeutic activity that is able to enhance focus and promote use of energy. Georgescu, Malkogeorgos, and Zaggelidou (2011), wrote that: Many parents and dance instructors believe that dance practice is therapeutic for children who have ADHD, characterized by impaired concentration and/or impulsive hyperactivity. Dancing promotes concentration and reduces impulsivity by requiring students to focus intensely on a physical activity, follow verbal and visual commands, and practice in a controlled, disciplined environment (p. 101-102). In making this comment, the authors believe that dance therapy can help control and lessen the severity of the symptoms of ADHD, such as hyperactivity, with the ability to release excess energy, which is something that many parents might see as a priority for their child. A pilot study conducted by Karlstad University and the University College of Dance in Stockholm, tested dance and movement therapy on young boys with ADHD. The study displayed some positive results of dance and movement therapy, noting, “Dancing can significantly affect hyperactivity and behavioral issues among boys with ADHD. Subjects in the trial regularly performed better in school, both behaviorally and academically.” (Armenian Health Network, 2013). The results showed that hyperactivity was lessened after dance and movement therapy had taken place, as well as improvements in a variety of physical and psychological symptoms that are typical of young people diagnosed with ADHD. This case study allowed dance and movement therapy to become a more well-known and credible form of therapy for young people with ADHD, which is something that parents have been seeking for over three decades. (REF)
Dance and movement therapy has also been proven to have the capability to affect the self-esteem of young people with ADHD.
Females with the disorder often have these sorts of issues. "Girls with untreated ADHD are at risk for chronic low self-esteem, underachievement, anxiety, depression, teen pregnancy, early smoking during middle school and high school," says psychologist Kathleen Nadeau (2002). This vast range of risks that are involved with untreated ADHD can therefore, significantly affect the person’s life, as well as the other people’s lives around them. Mayo Clinic, a well-known clinic for their extensive research efforts, “ranks dance among the top activities for children with ADHD, citing its structure as discipline building, as well as the opportunity to foster healthy self-esteem” (Hill, 2011). From personal experience, dance and movement can allow such people to understand more about their bodies, their abilities, their physical and mental limitations, and their feelings towards their …show more content…
self-esteem.
Down Syndrome is another disorder that can be positively affected by dance and therapy. The New Zealand Down Syndrome Association (2013), have traced the history and outlined the condition: Down Syndrome was first described in detail by an English doctor, John Langdon Down, in 1866. It is a congenital condition, which randomly affects about 1 in 1000 babies born throughout the world, male and female alike. It cannot be cured but problems can be eased if people with Down Syndrome have the right help and if other people have a positive accepting attitude. As said, the condition cannot be cured. However, there are some symptoms of the condition that can be improved with treatment. Depending on how severe their condition, some people with Down Syndrome often have issues with sleeping (Wood & Sacks, 2004). Psychologist Mandy Wood and Medical Professor Ben Sacks, both at Down Syndrome Education International, state that, “A degree of controlled physical exertion may help some children rid themselves of excess energy in readiness for bed” (2004). The use of dance therapy as a treatment for this excess energy has not yet been tested, however similar studies surrounding the activity of exercise has displayed some positive results. Thus, the employment of dance and movement therapy as method of sleep aid could potentially help such patients. There are some particular physical characteristics of Down Syndrome that have been verified to improve by dance and movement therapy. Some of the typical symptoms of the disorder are unique physical characteristics, unlike ADHD, where there are no signals of the disability in the appearance of the person. One of these is hypertonia, or low muscle tone. It is commonly known that dance and movement, when performed regularly, gradually helps to strengthen and define the muscles that are used. Another characteristic of the disability is in the feet. My FootDr Podiatry Centre (2013), observed broad feet with a deep plantar crease, a flat 'pronated ' arch, and a decreased range of motion in the ankle in those with the condition, causing issues with balance, uneven weight distribution over the toes, and the tendency to scuff the feet and trip. Patrick Massey, a medical director at the Medical and Physical Therapy Program, reviewed numerous studies surrounding the benefits of dance therapy in people with such symptoms, and concluded that, “Studies demonstrated that dance was better than a traditional exercise program in improving balance and coordination. Another study showed that balance training, two times a week for six weeks, increased balance and jumping skills even beyond that of children without Down Syndrome” (2004). This confirms that dance, in particular, has more specified benefits that can benefit those with the condition. Dance and movement therapy would be beneficial for young people with Down Syndrome, by helping to develop muscle tone, promote better posture, improve balance, improve coordination, release energy, as well as allow the person to learn more about their body, and their physical and mental capabilities. Employing this mode of therapy in the youthful years of their life would likely allow for better outcomes in the long term.
A common treatment for the symptoms of disabilities and genetic disorders such as those mentioned above, is medication. Medication is relied on to help reduce hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and impulsivity in young people with ADHD, and to aid in promoting sleep and reduce thyroid problems in young people with Downs Syndrome. The side effects of such medications can be severe, therefore may not be the best form of treatment for all patients.
For young people with ADHD, the side effects of medications can range from sleep problems, to appetite issues, and to cardiac risks. Senior Director of the Psychopharmacology Service at the Child Mind Institute, Roy Boorady, acknowledges that side effects differ in young people, and that it is important “for each child we try to find the medication, and the release formula, that will give them the most benefit, with the least side effects.” Because every young person responds differently to medication, its use should always be personalized to the individual and closely monitored by a doctor. Therefore, it is important to note, that when medication for ADHD is not carefully monitored, it is less effective and more risky. The National Insitute of Mental Health of the U.S (2013) stated that, “The FDA (U.S Food and Drug Amdministration) agency found that ADHD patients with existing heart conditions had a slightly higher risk of strokes, heart attacks, and/or sudden death when taking (ADHD) medications. They also found a slight increased risk, about 1 in 1,000, for medication-related psychiatric problems, such as hearing voices, having hallucinations, becoming suspicious for no reason, or becoming manic (an overly high mood), even in patients without a history of psychiatric problems. The FDA recommends that any treatment plan for ADHD include an initial health history, including family history, and examination for existing cardiovascular and psychiatric problems.” These discoveries will have a significant impact on parent’s decisions of whether to use medication as a treatment for their child’s disability, and may question whether other modes of treatment are more appropriate. The National Insitute of Mental Health of the U.S (2013) goes on to explain some of the more severe psychiatric side effects of ADHD medication, stating, “One ADHD medication, the non-stimulant atomoxetine (Strattera), carries another warning. Studies show that children and teenagers who take atomoxetine are more likely to have suicidal thoughts than children and teenagers with ADHD who do not take it. If your child is taking atomoxetine, watch his or her behavior carefully. A child may develop serious symptoms suddenly, so it is important to pay attention to your child 's behavior every day.”
"Unfortunately this form of therapy is not used in child and youth psychiatry today, but we hope that the government authorities will actively recommend that counties introduce dance therapy as a complement.” (Armenian Health Network, 2013).
I enjoy teaching and watching Amy at dance class. I can see that she observes her movements in the mirror, she listens carefully to the rhythm of the music, and she pushes herself to her limits.
Annotated Bibliography Nadeau, K.G., & Quinn, P.O.
(Eds.) (2002). Understanding women with AD/HD. Silver Spring, MD: Advantage Books.
Hill, D. (2011). http://www.livestrong.com/article/551349-dance-versus-karate-for-adhd-kids/
Claros, J. A. V., & Alvarez, C. V. (2012). Motor Skills in Children with ADHD: Comparative Study from the Farmacological Treatment. Current Directions in ADHD and Its Treatment, Dr. Jill M. Norvilitis (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-307-868-7, InTech, Retrieved from, http://www.intechopen.com/books/current-directions-in-adhd-and-its-treatment/motor-skills-in-children-with- adhd-comparative-study-from-the-farmacological-treatment
Armenian Medical Network. (2013). Dancing helps boys with ADHD. (June 8, 2006). Provided by ArmMed Media. Retrieved from, http://www.health.am/ab/more/dancing-helps-boys-with-adhd/
Patrick B. Massey, M.D., Ph.D., “Alternative Approach”, The Daily Herald, October 25, 2004 http://www.now-university.com/Library/FamilyHealth/Children/M042279.htm#.UaSWQTl1Pdk
Wood, A. & Sacks, B. (2004) Overcoming sleep problems for children with Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome News and Update. 2004;3(4);118-127.
doi:10.3104/reviews.320
Dance Therapy as a Treatment for Disabilities and Disorders in Young People
When Amy arrives to dance class, she is always full of energy, leaping about and chatting away to each and every one of her class mates. When Amy leaves dance class, she is relaxed, placid, and seemingly peaceful. The next week, the same thing happens. While Amy, who was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at the age of seven, has only been attending my dance class for six weeks, I can already see that dancing has the ability to calm her hyperactivity, tire her energetic body, and affect her self-esteem. My personal experience with Amy has interested me in the benefits of dance and movement …show more content…
as a form of therapy. In particular, young people with disabilities or disorders, such as ADHD and Down Syndrome. This essay will look at the effects of dance and movement based therapy on young people with disabilities and disorders, and analyse how this method is more beneficial than other modes of treatment, such as medication, which can have serious side effects.
According to the American Dance Therapy Association, “dance therapy has been around for more than 50 years and helps connect the body and mind. It’s also effective for individuals with developmental, physical, social, psychological or physiological impairments.” Dance and movement based therapy has been a relatively recent approach to treatment of disorders and disabilities in young people. The development of motor skills and cognitive functions in young people can be altered or slowed down, if they are subject to a disability or disorder (Claros and Alvare, 2012). Many young people living with disabilities such ADHD, or disorders such as Down Syndrome, have delays in either or many of mental, social and physical growth. Many types of therapy as well as different physical activities have been trialed and tested on such people, including musical therapy, dance therapy, martial arts participation and team sport participation. Dance and movement therapy has been proven to be a particularly beneficial form of therapy for these people, offering improvements in mental focus and concentration, as well as physical aspects such as balance and co-ordination. As this type of therapy involves movement of the limbs, stretching of the muscles, listening to timing of music and communication skills, both the left and right sides of the brain and stimulated, resulting in a variety of positive impacts on brain and body health.
Dance, as well as other forms of exercise, can provide a valuable outlet for excess energy. Young people with ADHD, due to their disability, often have excess energy that needs to be released. The journal article, The Effect of Dance Practice on Health (2011), argues that dance is a therapeutic activity that is able to enhance focus and promote use of energy. Georgescu, Malkogeorgos, and Zaggelidou (2011), wrote that: Many parents and dance instructors believe that dance practice is therapeutic for children who have ADHD, characterized by impaired concentration and/or impulsive hyperactivity. Dancing promotes concentration and reduces impulsivity by requiring students to focus intensely on a physical activity, follow verbal and visual commands, and practice in a controlled, disciplined environment (p. 101-102). In making this comment, the authors believe that dance therapy can help control and lessen the severity of the symptoms of ADHD, such as hyperactivity, with the ability to release excess energy, which is something that many parents might see as a priority for their child. A pilot study conducted by Karlstad University and the University College of Dance in Stockholm, tested dance and movement therapy on young boys with ADHD. The study displayed some positive results of dance and movement therapy, noting, “Dancing can significantly affect hyperactivity and behavioral issues among boys with ADHD. Subjects in the trial regularly performed better in school, both behaviorally and academically.” (Armenian Health Network, 2013). The results showed that hyperactivity was lessened after dance and movement therapy had taken place, as well as improvements in a variety of physical and psychological symptoms that are typical of young people diagnosed with ADHD. This case study allowed dance and movement therapy to become a more well-known and credible form of therapy for young people with ADHD, which is something that parents have been seeking for over three decades. (REF)
Dance and movement therapy has also been proven to have the capability to affect the self-esteem of young people with ADHD.
Females with the disorder often have these sorts of issues. "Girls with untreated ADHD are at risk for chronic low self-esteem, underachievement, anxiety, depression, teen pregnancy, early smoking during middle school and high school," says psychologist Kathleen Nadeau (2002). This vast range of risks that are involved with untreated ADHD can therefore, significantly affect the person’s life, as well as the other people’s lives around them. Mayo Clinic, a well-known clinic for their extensive research efforts, “ranks dance among the top activities for children with ADHD, citing its structure as discipline building, as well as the opportunity to foster healthy self-esteem” (Hill, 2011). From personal experience, dance and movement can allow such people to understand more about their bodies, their abilities, their physical and mental limitations, and their feelings towards their …show more content…
self-esteem.
Down Syndrome is another disorder that can be positively affected by dance and therapy. The New Zealand Down Syndrome Association (2013), have traced the history and outlined the condition: Down Syndrome was first described in detail by an English doctor, John Langdon Down, in 1866. It is a congenital condition, which randomly affects about 1 in 1000 babies born throughout the world, male and female alike. It cannot be cured but problems can be eased if people with Down Syndrome have the right help and if other people have a positive accepting attitude. As said, the condition cannot be cured. However, there are some symptoms of the condition that can be improved with treatment. Depending on how severe their condition, some people with Down Syndrome often have issues with sleeping (Wood & Sacks, 2004). Psychologist Mandy Wood and Medical Professor Ben Sacks, both at Down Syndrome Education International, state that, “A degree of controlled physical exertion may help some children rid themselves of excess energy in readiness for bed” (2004). The use of dance therapy as a treatment for this excess energy has not yet been tested, however similar studies surrounding the activity of exercise has displayed some positive results. Thus, the employment of dance and movement therapy as method of sleep aid could potentially help such patients. There are some particular physical characteristics of Down Syndrome that have been verified to improve by dance and movement therapy. Some of the typical symptoms of the disorder are unique physical characteristics, unlike ADHD, where there are no signals of the disability in the appearance of the person. One of these is hypertonia, or low muscle tone. It is commonly known that dance and movement, when performed regularly, gradually helps to strengthen and define the muscles that are used. Another characteristic of the disability is in the feet. My FootDr Podiatry Centre (2013), observed broad feet with a deep plantar crease, a flat 'pronated ' arch, and a decreased range of motion in the ankle in those with the condition, causing issues with balance, uneven weight distribution over the toes, and the tendency to scuff the feet and trip. Patrick Massey, a medical director at the Medical and Physical Therapy Program, reviewed numerous studies surrounding the benefits of dance therapy in people with such symptoms, and concluded that, “Studies demonstrated that dance was better than a traditional exercise program in improving balance and coordination. Another study showed that balance training, two times a week for six weeks, increased balance and jumping skills even beyond that of children without Down Syndrome” (2004). This confirms that dance, in particular, has more specified benefits that can benefit those with the condition. Dance and movement therapy would be beneficial for young people with Down Syndrome, by helping to develop muscle tone, promote better posture, improve balance, improve coordination, release energy, as well as allow the person to learn more about their body, and their physical and mental capabilities. Employing this mode of therapy in the youthful years of their life would likely allow for better outcomes in the long term.
A common treatment for the symptoms of disabilities and genetic disorders such as those mentioned above, is medication. Medication is relied on to help reduce hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and impulsivity in young people with ADHD, and to aid in promoting sleep and reduce thyroid problems in young people with Downs Syndrome. The side effects of such medications can be severe, therefore may not be the best form of treatment for all patients.
For young people with ADHD, the side effects of medications can range from sleep problems, to appetite issues, and to cardiac risks. Senior Director of the Psychopharmacology Service at the Child Mind Institute, Roy Boorady, acknowledges that side effects differ in young people, and that it is important “for each child we try to find the medication, and the release formula, that will give them the most benefit, with the least side effects.” Because every young person responds differently to medication, its use should always be personalized to the individual and closely monitored by a doctor. Therefore, it is important to note, that when medication for ADHD is not carefully monitored, it is less effective and more risky. The National Insitute of Mental Health of the U.S (2013) stated that, “The FDA (U.S Food and Drug Amdministration) agency found that ADHD patients with existing heart conditions had a slightly higher risk of strokes, heart attacks, and/or sudden death when taking (ADHD) medications. They also found a slight increased risk, about 1 in 1,000, for medication-related psychiatric problems, such as hearing voices, having hallucinations, becoming suspicious for no reason, or becoming manic (an overly high mood), even in patients without a history of psychiatric problems. The FDA recommends that any treatment plan for ADHD include an initial health history, including family history, and examination for existing cardiovascular and psychiatric problems.” These discoveries will have a significant impact on parent’s decisions of whether to use medication as a treatment for their child’s disability, and may question whether other modes of treatment are more appropriate. The National Insitute of Mental Health of the U.S (2013) goes on to explain some of the more severe psychiatric side effects of ADHD medication, stating, “One ADHD medication, the non-stimulant atomoxetine (Strattera), carries another warning. Studies show that children and teenagers who take atomoxetine are more likely to have suicidal thoughts than children and teenagers with ADHD who do not take it. If your child is taking atomoxetine, watch his or her behavior carefully. A child may develop serious symptoms suddenly, so it is important to pay attention to your child 's behavior every day.”
"Unfortunately this form of therapy is not used in child and youth psychiatry today, but we hope that the government authorities will actively recommend that counties introduce dance therapy as a complement.” (Armenian Health Network, 2013).
I enjoy teaching and watching Amy at dance class. I can see that she observes her movements in the mirror, she listens carefully to the rhythm of the music, and she pushes herself to her limits.
Annotated Bibliography Nadeau, K.G., & Quinn, P.O.
(Eds.) (2002). Understanding women with AD/HD. Silver Spring, MD: Advantage Books.
Hill, D. (2011). http://www.livestrong.com/article/551349-dance-versus-karate-for-adhd-kids/
Claros, J. A. V., & Alvarez, C. V. (2012). Motor Skills in Children with ADHD: Comparative Study from the Farmacological Treatment. Current Directions in ADHD and Its Treatment, Dr. Jill M. Norvilitis (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-307-868-7, InTech, Retrieved from, http://www.intechopen.com/books/current-directions-in-adhd-and-its-treatment/motor-skills-in-children-with- adhd-comparative-study-from-the-farmacological-treatment
Armenian Medical Network. (2013). Dancing helps boys with ADHD. (June 8, 2006). Provided by ArmMed Media. Retrieved from, http://www.health.am/ab/more/dancing-helps-boys-with-adhd/
Patrick B. Massey, M.D., Ph.D., “Alternative Approach”, The Daily Herald, October 25, 2004 http://www.now-university.com/Library/FamilyHealth/Children/M042279.htm#.UaSWQTl1Pdk
Wood, A. & Sacks, B. (2004) Overcoming sleep problems for children with Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome News and Update. 2004;3(4);118-127.
doi:10.3104/reviews.320