The Effectiveness of Dance Therapy as an Adjunct to Rehabilitation of Adults With a Physical Disability.

To determine the added benefit on participants' mobility and participation of a 12-week dance therapy (DT) intervention combined with usual physical rehabilitation for adults with varied physical disabilities. Their appreciation of DT was also explored. We conducted a quasi-experimental study pre-post test with a nonequivalent control group and repeated measurements pre, post, and at a 3-month follow-up. Although participants in both groups significantly improved over time (at 12 weeks and at follow-up) compared to baseline on mobility (timed up and go, TUG) and participation (e.g., Life-H scores and number of leisure activities), treatment effect analysis using propensity score matching showed no significant treatment effect of DT. The TUG scores showed the best promise of a treatment effect. DT participants' Flow State Scale scores significantly improved ( < 0.01) for 5/9 dimensions of flow (being in control, loss of self-consciousness), and they all recommended DT. This study failed to demonstrate an added benefit of the DT intervention in improving participants' mobility and participation. Overwhelmingly, favorable participants' opinions about the intervention support its potential impact.