Conclusion/ Personal reflection

In the beginning before I had started this blog I wanted to choose a topic that was meaningful to me and something I was passionate about. Dance to me is my way of expressing myself, it makes me happy, and it gives me a sense of belonging, belonging to a community of dancers. It not only provides me an environment for social interaction but also keeps me fit and healthy, engages my mind and gives me a feeling of satisfaction and purpose. But how could I integrate something I love into something that was therapeutically beneficial for someone else? I knew from literature that dance had been used to help elderly reduce falls, dance could help with balance. I also knew that for those living with Parkinson’s’ disease it is important to exercise and keep active.

Parkinson’s clients have difficulty with gait, mobility, balance, isolation, reduced participation, cognitive difficulties and other symptoms depending on the individual. People living with Parkinson’s disease have many obstacles to face and barriers that can inhibit them from participating in activities of daily living and meaningful occupations.  Occupational therapy can help people living with Parkinson’s disease to engage in occupations that are important to them and therapeutically beneficial. Finding interventions that can enable them to carry out the occupations that are important to them, is vital. This is where I began to source literature supporting many positive effects when utilizing dance as an intervention tool for those living with Parkinson’s disease.

‘Dance to express not to impress’ is the title I chose to represent my topic and blog. It is so important to me that people see how dance can be used as something positive, a way to express yourself, a way to connect with others, a way to improve functional mobility and lose yourself within the music. It is not about the way you look doing the movements, it’s not to impress. Dance can allow your mind and body to focus so much on the music and movement that you leave your disability, disease and worries at the door. The confidence someone living with Parkinson’s can gain from improving gait, improving muscle strength, participate in something beneficial to them, can increase self-efficacy, engage them in something meaningful and incorporate active body, active mind.

I have learnt so much from doing this blog and linking the use of dance for Parkinson’s disease with an Occupational therapy perspective. I didn’t realise that dance could have so many benefits for those living with Parkinson’s. I hope that this blog has encouraged people to think about how dance can be utilised as a meaningful intervention tool to positively influence those living with Parkinson’s.

Thank you for reading my blog I really appreciate any comments, questions or feedback you have to offer.