Effect of partnered dance intervention on upper extremity outcomes for breast cancer survivors with CIPN

Thursday, November 10, 2022

10:25 AM – 10:30 AM

Location: Station 2

Presenting Author(s)

Courtney R. Bland, OTD-S, BFA (she/her/hers)

Clinical Research Assistant
The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, Midwestern University- Downers Grove
Columbus , Ohio, United States

Non-presenting Author(s)

Lise C. Worthen-Chaudhari, PhD, MFA, CCRC, CMES (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Madeleine E. Hackney, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
ML

Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH

Chief of Breast Medical Oncology
Yale University School of Medicine, United States
JC

Jewel Elias Crasta, PhD, OTR/L

Assistant Professor
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, United States

Research Objectives: To present a case series assessing change in hand grip strength and shoulder mobility among breast cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIPN) undergoing a partnered, dance-based intervention.

Design: Interventional case series. Pre/post data analyzed using a paired t-test.

Setting: Outpatient oncology (recruitment); community (intervention)

Participants: Three women diagnosed with Breast Cancer (mean age 60.76 (10.06) years), CIPN, and balance deficits (defined per Worthen-Chaudhari et al., 2018).

Interventions: Partnered Argentine Tango dance (AdapTango) (Hackney, 2010) twice weekly for 8 weeks.

Main Outcome Measures: Hand grip strength measured using a Jamar dynamometer and shoulder mobility measured using the back scratch item from the Senior Fitness Test (Woloszyn et al 2021).

Results: Grip strength improved (p=0.009; effect size = 2.3) and shoulder mobility showed a trend toward improvement (p=0.07; effect size = 0.37).

Conclusions: While our group previously showed that partnered AdapTango improves posture in this population (Worthen-Chaudhari, 2019) these data indicate that upper extremity function may also improve with this form of partnered social dance, possibly due to the upper extremity partner hold involved.

Author(s) Disclosures: The authors have no conflicts to report. This research was supported by R21-AG068831.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion, participant will be able to articulate the feasibility of using the Jamar dynamometer and Senior Fitness Test to assess upper extremity function in breast cancer survivors with CIPN.
Upon completion, participant will be able to understand the relevance of implementing dance-based training in order to increase hand grip strength and shoulder mobility in breast cancer survivors with CIPN.
Upon completion, participant will be able to understand the importance of dance-based training within the scope of practice for occupational therapy.