ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Almost one and a half million Americans suffer from Parkinson's disease. It's a neurological disorder best known for its symptoms: tremors and a lack of balance. Now, a new study is showing how a popular dance may help patients fight some of the effects.

Dancing is what sparked love for Ute and Wilfried Adelt. "We were in a dance class, and there she was," Wilfried told Ivanhoe. Their love spanned more than four decades and held strong through Wilfried's diagnosis of Parkinson's 15 years ago; but losing coordination and balance made dancing uncomfortable, so Wilfried quit. "I missed it. I really did," Ute told Ivanhoe.

Now, their dancing is back thanks to researchers at Washington University. They're studying a unique treatment for those afflicted with Parkinson's -- the tango. "It seemed to be a good fit because several of the movements that tango incorporates might specifically target some of the difficulties that people with Parkinson's disease have," Gammon Earhart, Ph.D., P.T., an assistant professor of physical therapy at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, told Ivanhoe.
 

To tango, patients have to balance, turn, initiate steps, dance at different speeds and walk backwards. Researchers say it's these moves that help improve symptoms. "Given the challenges that they're facing on a day-to-day basis, but they come in here with such energy and enthusiasm, and they're so very, very appreciative," Madeleine Hackney, a movement science doctoral candidate at Washington University School of Medicine, told Ivanhoe.

Researchers followed Parkinson's patients who attended 20 tango classes. The participants saw much more dramatic improvements in balance and mobility than those who did traditional exercise. "I noticed that I could do steps that I couldn't do before," Wilfried says.

The Adelts are glad the tango brought music back to their marriage. "We took this class, and now we are dancing in the kitchen once again," Ute says.

Study participants ranged from their mid-40s to age 82. Researchers are now testing whether a more intense two-week dance course could benefit patients even more. The study was funded by the American Parkinson's Association.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Judy Martin
Director of Media Relations
Washington University School of Medicine
St. Louis, MO
(314) 286-0105