Adapted Physical Activity and Tango-Based Therapy for Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Study

NCT07736014 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Studio ETRMPEMP_2024
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 27
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this clinical research is to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured Tango-based (Riabilitango®) therapy compared to a conventional Motor Reconditioning program and a Control group in individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. The study assesses changes in motor performance, balance, gait kinematics, functional strenght, and health-related quality of life over a 3-month intervention period and a 3-month post-intervention follow-up.

Conditions

Parkinson's Disease (PD)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Part III Motor Examination Score

  The UPDRS Part III evaluates motor function in individuals with Parkinson's disease, including speech, facial expression, tremor, rigidity, finger taps, hand movements, gait, posture, and bradykinesia. Scores range from 0 to 56, with higher scores indicating greater motor impairment.

  Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

Secondary Outcomes (16)

• Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test Time

  Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

• Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) Distance

  Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

• Handgrip Strength

  Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

• Sit-and-Reach Test Distance

  Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

• Back Scratch Test Distance

  Baseline, Month 1, Month 2, Month 3, and 3-month post-intervention follow-up (Month 6)

Study Arms (3)

Tango-based program (Riabilitango®)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive a structured tango-based rehabilitation programme (Riabilitango®) delivered by a qualified tango instructor. The intervention lasts 3 months, attending 2 supervised 60-minute sessions per week in group format (approx. 10 participants). The sessions focus on ankle/foot warm-up, balance and stick exercises for trunk mobility, rhythm-synchronised walking, and adapted Argentine tango figures.

Other: Riabilitango® Tango-based program

Motor Reconditioning

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants undergo a conventional motor reconditioning programme supervised by a qualified kinesiologist. The intervention lasts 3 months, with 2 supervised 60-minute sessions per week in small groups (2-3 participants). The program includes stationary cycling, progressive treadmill walking, functional strength training, postural transitions, and stretching exercises.

Other: Motor Reconditioning

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants assigned to the control group do not participate in any structured exercise or rehabilitation intervention during the 3-month study period. They maintain their routine medical care and daily habits.

Interventions

Riabilitango® Tango-based program OTHER

Supervised group tango therapy incorporating warm-up exercises, trunk mobility routines, rhythm-synchronised walking, partner activities, and progressive adapted tango patterns tailored for individuals with Parkinson's disease.

Tango-based program (Riabilitango®)

Motor Reconditioning OTHER

Supervised motor reconditioning including a cycling warm-up, progressive treadmill walking at 60-70% of age-predicted maximal heart rate, functional upper-limb exercises, and stretching routines.

Motor Reconditioning

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Confirmed clinical diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's Disease.
• Mild to moderate disease severity (Hoehn and Yahr stage I-III).
• Ability to walk independently (with or without assistive devices).
• Stable antiparkinsonian pharmacological treatment for at least 4 weeks prior to enrollment.
• Ability to understand study procedures and willingness to sign the Informed Consent document.

You may not qualify if:

• Severe cognitive impairment or dementia preventing comprehension of instructions or active participation.
• Severe cardiovascular, respiratory, orthopedic, or other neurological conditions that impair safe exercise participation or gait evaluation.
• Surgical interventions that directly affect mobility or dynamic balance (e.g., Deep Brain Stimulation or recent major orthopedic surgery).
• Concurrent participation in other physical rehabilitation programs or clinical trials during the study period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Foggia: lead

Study Sites (1)

Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria "Ospedali Riuniti" di Foggia

Foggia, FG, 71122, Italy

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Goodwin VA, Richards SH, Taylor RS, Taylor AH, Campbell JL. The effectiveness of exercise interventions for people with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Mov Disord. 2008 Apr 15;23(5):631-40. doi: 10.1002/mds.21922.

  PMID: 18181210 RESULT

• Rios Romenets S, Anang J, Fereshtehnejad SM, Pelletier A, Postuma R. Tango for treatment of motor and non-motor manifestations in Parkinson's disease: a randomized control study. Complement Ther Med. 2015 Apr;23(2):175-84. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2015.01.015. Epub 2015 Feb 9.

  PMID: 25847555 RESULT

• Hackney ME, Earhart GM. Effects of dance on balance and gait in severe Parkinson disease: a case study. Disabil Rehabil. 2010;32(8):679-84. doi: 10.3109/09638280903247905.

  PMID: 20205582 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 24, 2026
• First Posted: July 30, 2026
• Study Start: October 17, 2024
• Primary Completion: July 31, 2025
• Study Completion: July 31, 2025
• Last Updated: July 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
• Time Frame: Data will become available starting 6 months following publication of the primary manuscript and will remain accessible for up to 3 years.
• Access Criteria: Requests for data access should be submitted to the Principal Investigator (Pr. Anna Antonia Valenzano). Requesters will be required to sign a Data Use Agreement.

Locations

IT (1)