. Tango Therapy Around the World
. Tango Therapy Around the World
Tango therapy has become a worldwide phenomena . It has been used for the treatment of everything from depression and alzheimers to Parkinson ’ s disease and cancer . Recently , several notable medical research institutes have recognized its efficacy . A few of them are presented here .
According to new research conducted by a multidiciplinary research team at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center ., tango therapy is being used to restore balance for cancer patients with neuropathy . the dance has the potential to significantly improve balance and reduce risk of falling among cancer patients experiencing peripheral neuropathy ,
The pilot study was funded by Pelotonia , a grassroots cycling event , Pelotoni , in Columbus , Ohio , that has raised more than $ 106 million for cancer research , at the Arthur G . James Cancer Hospital and Richard J . Solove Research Institute . A Pelotonia fellow and pre-medicine and dance major , Mimi Lamantia and physical rehabilitation faculty member , Lise Worthen-Chaudhari , collaborated on these movement studies at the Wexner Medical Center ’ s Neurological Institute , .
The study addressed one of the prevalent side effect of cancer treatment — neuropathy . Up to 70 percent of patients treated with chemotherapy will experience peripheral neuropathy as a side effect of cancer treatment . The condition can cause loss of sensation in the hands , fingers , feet and toes . One in three patients will still experience this problem six months post treatment .
Researchers say long-term neuropathy in the feet and toes can be especially problematic because it affects a person ’ s balance and gait . This puts them in an elevated fall risk when they are engaging in daily life activities .
It ’ s a big deal because many more people are surviving cancer . Dealing with the issues that impact a person ’ s quality of life after cancer is extremely important . ... As a dancer , I study the art of movement and as a biomechanist and rehabilitation scientist I study the math and the science of movement . We thought that it would be a powerful combination to put all those together to try to help cancer survivors .
— Lise Worthen-Chaudhari
To evaluate the effect of tango on the biomechanical predictors of fall risk among cancer survivors , They designed a dance intervention course that involved twenty sessions of adapted tango . Patients participated in one hour sessions twice a week for ten weeks . The researchers measured patients ’ standing postural sway with a computer-aided force platform at the beginning and at completion of the ten weeks of instruction .
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