Evaluation of Specialized Water Dance Intervention

Summary

Individuals with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) have extensive health problems and need for personal assistance throughout the day. Few physical- and health promoting activities are available for them and among the activities, few have been scientifically evaluated. Specialized water dance intervention (SWAN) is a new method developed to relieve discomfort and promote physical wellbeing among people with PIMD. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of SWAN on stress, spasticity, pain, alertness, wellbeing and social interaction among individuals with PIMD.

Individuals with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) have extensive health problems and need for personal assistance throughout the day. Few physical and health promoting activities are available for them. Among the activities, few have been scientifically evaluated. Specialized water dance intervention (SWAN) is a new method developed to relieve discomfort and promote physical wellbeing among people with PIMD. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of SWAN on stress, spasticity, pain, alertness, wellbeing and social interaction among individuals with PIMD.

Prospective randomized controlled intervention study in which the effects of SWAN are tested in a two-group cross-over design with pre-, under- and post-measurements. The study is conducted as a multicenter study with four participating county councils/regions I Sweden (Varmland County Council, Region Orebro County, Region Ostergotland and Region Gavleborg).

The SWAN intervention is given once a week for 3 months (12 occasions). Each SWAN session is 45 minutes and is led by two SWAN leaders.

Conditions

• Spastic
• Pain, Chronic
• Stress
• Quality of Life

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Specialized water dance intervention

Group activity in a warm pool (32-34 °C) led by two SWAN leaders. During each session, nine songs are played and the participants, assisted by a support person, perform dance movements rhythmically to the mood of the music. The songs are chosen to stimulate different movement patterns and to emphasize different emotions.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Region Gävleborg

  collaborator OTHER

• Värmland County Council, Sweden

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Region Östergötland

  collaborator OTHER

• Region Örebro County

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mats G Karlsson, Professor · Region Örebro County

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

16 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-09-01

Primary Completion

2020-09-30

Completion

2020-12-11

Countries

• Sweden

Study Locations