Dance programs for people with traumatic brain injury: A scoping review dance programs for people with traumatic brain injury: A scoping review
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Modified dance for people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an emerging adjunct neurorehabilitation technique. The aim of this review is to describe the characteristics of dance programs developed for people with TBI, and to examine how stakeholders perceive these programs. Eight databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses) were searched for studies on dance and TBI. Seven eligible articles were identified, involving a total of 22 dance participants with TBI and a further three people with TBI in a control group. The most common dance techniques used were dance movement therapy, improvisation, meditative movement, and mirroring. Modifications to programs included one-on-one delivery, individual tailoring with strategies to assist with cognitive or mobility barriers, and support from clinicians or assistants. Overall, the dance programs were feasible to deliver and acceptable to participants. Three studies revealed mixed evidence of efficacy in terms of motor fitness outcomes (e.g., balance and mobility), and there was insufficient evidence for efficacy in terms of cognition, neuroplasticity, and psychosocial outcomes. The review makes recommendations to enhance the safety and sustainability of dance for the neurorehabilitation population and to improve the standardized reporting of program design and execution to advance the field.
DOI: 10.5507/euj.2025.010
Institutions: Griffith University, University of New England
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7223837485