Effects of an Intensive Rhythmic Dance Program on Learning Skills in Children With Cerebral Palsy (DANS-SCED)

Effects of an Intensive Rhythmic Dance Program on Learning Ability in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects 1 in 1,000 children and causes motor disability , with sometimes sensorymotor disability which have consequences on daily life. The aim of rehabilitation for people with cerebral palsy is to improve patients' independence and quality of life. A major stake for these people is therefore to learn new behaviors by fostering motor, cognitive, and psychosocial development. Dance is a relevant activity, as it is a physical and enjoyable learning activity and a multisensory environment. Moreover, scientific literature suggests motor and psycho-affective benefits associated with dance practice in children with cerebral palsy, especially when it involves rhythmic stimulation. The aim of this project is therefore to assess the effect of a rhythm-based dance program on motor learning ability, as rhythmic auditory stimulation can improve motor control in patients with other neurological disorders (e.g., Thaut, 2015). We suppose that being able to synchronize through the practice of rhythmic dance could facilitate the learning of cognitive and psychosocial motor skills.

To reach this goal, we will conduct a Single Case Experimental Study (SCED). Using this individual analysis method, we will repeatedly evaluate a target behavior to determine whether a dance program facilitates motor, cognitive, and psychosocial learning for each participant.

The dance program will take place over two weeks. Three instructors will lead dance classes (two 2-hour sessions per day with breaks) during the first week, and three one-hour dance classes during the second week. Assessments will be conducted before (baseline, phase A), during (intervention, phase B), after the dance workshop (follow-up phase, FU), and far from it (final study visit).

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Cerebral Palsy (CP)
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Repeated assessments

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 6

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Occitanie
    • Toulouse, Occitanie, France, 31059
      • Recruiting
      • CHU Toulouse - Hôpital Raymonde Fournet
      • Contact: Philippe Marque; Phone Number: +33 5 61 77 91 08; Email: marque.ph@chu-toulouse.fr
      • Principal Investigator: Philippe MARQUE

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants with cerebral palsy will be recruited from ASEI ((Agir, Soigner, Eduquer, Insérer), a public utility organization governed by the French law of July 1, 1901).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 6 and 17 years old
• Diagnosis of cerebral palsy
• Level I to IV on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS, Palisano et al., 2008) : with or without an armchair
• Level I to IV on the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS, Eliasson et al., 2006)
• Affiliation with or beneficiary of a Social Security scheme
• Ability to understand instructions (investigator's assessment)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Autism spectrum disorder diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria (APA, 2013)
• Hearing impairment diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria (APA, 2013) or uncorrected hearing impairment that prevents the individual from hearing music at a volume between 45 and 70 decibels
• Visual impairment diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria (APA, 2013) and uncorrected
• Intellectual Developmental Disorder diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria (APA, 2013)
• Behavioral/conduct disorders diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria (APA, 2013)
• Child enrolled in a dance program specifically focused on rhythm
• Child whose parents are both subject to legal protection measures (guardianship, curatorship, judicial protection)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Evolution of the Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) score throughout the study	The main criterion is the evolution of the Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) score throughout the study. The GAS corresponds to the individual goals set with each child at the beginning of the study. Three individualized and specific goals will be defined for each child, covering motor, cognitive, and psychosocial domains. These measurements will be assessed repeatedly during the dance program: reference phase (baseline, phase A), during the dance program (intervention, phase B), and after the dance program (follow-up phase, FU), with a final assessment at a distance from the intervention phase (final study visit).	From baseline to the final study visit (up to approximately 9 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) scores	Children's perceptions will be assessed using the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory adapted for children with cerebral palsy ). This questionnaire evaluates interest and enjoyment in performing an activity, skills involved perception, perceived value and activity usefulness, the feeling of freedom and choice, and perceived pressures and tensions. These measurements will be assessed repeatedly during the dance program: reference phase (baseline, phase A), during the dance program (intervention, phase B), and after the dance program (follow-up phase, FU), with a final assessment at a distance from the intervention phase (final study visit).	From baseline to the final study visit (up to approximately 9 weeks)
Physical activity levels measured by heart rate monitoring	Physical activity levels will be measured using a heart rate monitor. These measurements will be assessed repeatedly during phase A, during the dance program (phase B), and after the dance program (follow-up phase, FU). A final assessment will be conducted remotely after the intervention phase (final study visit).	From baseline to the final study visit (up to approximately 9 weeks)
Socio-demographic characteristics	Socio-demographic characteristics is a composite measure derived age, sex, practice habits (Physical Activity (PA), dance, PA related to rhythm) will be collected via an interview grid at the beginning of the study.	baseline
Initial perceptions of the children	The initial perceptions of the children and their parents regarding their self-image in relation to dance (perceived ability and expected progress) and the effects of the dance program will be collected at the beginning of the study using a semi-structured interview, and the evolution of these perceptions will be analyzed qualitatively	baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Toulouse

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 17, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 24, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 24, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 30, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 30, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 24, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Cerebral palsy; Dance program; Learning skills
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Brain Damage, Chronic; Cerebral Palsy
• Other Study ID Numbers: RC31/25/0654