Tap Dance for Adults With Lower Limb Amputation

Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Amputation; Traumatic, Leg, Lower

Treatments: Other: Tap dance program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06334146

UNLV-2023-62

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this study is to determine whether it is possible for people with lower limb amputation (LLA) to perform adapted tap dance, whether an adapted tap dance program would be enjoyable, and whether it may improve balance and balance confidence.

There is a lack of research investigating therapeutic interventions for people with lower limb amputation (LLA). Tap dance encourages balance and novel movements of the limbs, while providing auditory feedback from the feet that provide information about the foot's contact with the ground, which may help prosthesis users gain a better ability to understand where their prosthetic foot is in space. As with most forms of dance, tap is usually taught and practiced in a group setting, which encourages community involvement. It has been shown to be safer than many forms of dance due to low impact forces. It also, as a genre, can incorporate canes, chairs and partner work, providing the ability to modify steps/moves when required so that they remain practical, achievable and safe for people with mobility limitations, while still enabling participation. It therefore may be an accessible dance medium to help improve balance, balance confidence, and build community for people with LLA.

Participants will be asked to:

• come to 1 hour dance classes, once per week, for 8 weeks.
• do mobility tests before and after the program
• complete questionnaires before, during and after the program. The total time for participation is approximately 8-10 weeks.

Enrollment: 3 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• unilateral or bilateral lower limb amputation at ankle level or above
• fitted with a walking prosthesis, used regularly for walking in the home and the community
• good socket fit
• able to stand or walk for 2 minutes at a time with or without an assistive device
• willing to travel to the University of Nevada Las Vegas for tap classes once a week for 8 weeks, and for two testing sessions
• able to complete all required outcome measures
• able to understand written and spoken English

Exclusion criteria

• leg/foot ulcer/sore or other conditions that cause pain during weight-bearing
• cardiovascular, respiratory or other critical health conditions that preclude moderate physical activity

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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3 participants in 1 patient group

Tap dance program

Experimental group

Description:

Participants undertake tap dance program.

Treatment:

Other: Tap dance program