Influence of Dalcroze Eurhythmics on Pains in Older Women

Effect of Dalcroze Eurhythmics' Physical Exercises on Headaches, Backaches, and Leg Pains in Older Women: a Randomized Controlled Trial

In this study, we attempted to answer the question of whether participation in a 12-week rhythmic exercise program using the Dalcroze method affects the level of intensity of pain experienced by women over the age of 65. The level of pain was determined on a numerical scale from 1 to 10 and involved headaches, back pain and leg pain.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Back Pain; Headache; Leg Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Physical exercise program

Detailed Description

Background. Body pain of various degrees and types can complicate human life. Regular physical exercise and good mental health can both have protective effects on the body and its physical health. Physical exercises may also, in some aspects, be particularly important for older women who experience varying degrees of headache, back pain, and/or leg pain chronically. The purpose of the study was to analyze the effects of the Dalcroze Eurhythmic Method on headaches, backaches, and leg pains among older women.

Methods. Sixty-two blinded participants with pain were randomized into two groups. Women (65 to 82 years old) who had reported the occurrence of headaches, backaches, or leg pains during the 3 months prior to the beginning of the randomized controlled trial study were identified. The participants in the pre-test and post-test used the 0-10 Numeric Pain Rating Scale to quantify their pain. Women from the experimental group participated for 3 months in the physical exercise program based on the Dalcroze Eurhythmics Method.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 61
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Poland
  • Wielkopolska
    • Poznań, Wielkopolska, Poland, 61-871
      • Poznan University of Physical Education

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• female, 65+ years old, physical and mental state that allows them to participate in the exercise program (ability to follow the instructions), community dwelling

Exclusion Criteria:

• taking analgesics indelibly, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease, using social assistance or nursing care.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention group; Physical exercises program	Other: Physical exercise program; Training sessions took place twice a week for 45 minutes each over a period of 12 weeks. Each training included rhythmic exercises using the Jaques-Dalcroze Eurhythmics (JDE) method with piano accompaniment and electronically played music. Training sessions were conducted by a JDE specialist. Exercises with the use of this method consist mainly in the repetition of preset musical sequences using body movements. In addition to the physical layer, the cognitive layer was equally important: while performing a given movement exercise, participants often had to focus in order to react appropriately to additional tasks, such as changes in sound pitch and rhythm of the piece.
No Intervention: Control group; Were advised not to change anything about their current lifestyle, and in particular not to undertake any new structured physical activity.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain levels before exercise program	Level of pains determined by numeric pain scale 1-10	From enrollment to the day before the start of the exercise program

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Results of pain levels after exercise program	Level of pains determined by numeric pain scale 1-10	One month after completion of the exercise program

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Poznan University of Physical Education
• Investigators: Study Director: JANUSZ MACIASZEK, PROF, Poznan University of Physical Education

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 11, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 8, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): July 15, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 30, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 9, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): February 16, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 16, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 9, 2024
• Last Verified: January 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: back pain; leg pain; headache; elderly women; Dalcroze Eurhythmics
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Back Pain; Headache
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2024/1/1

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No