Rehabilitation of the Adult and Child with
Brain Injury Conference
May 4, 2012
Dance/Movement Therapy in Brain
Injury Rehabilitation
Presentation by
Marianne Talbot, Ph.D.
National Rehabilitation & Rediscovery Foundation
Virginia Tech
Brain Injury ISIG, ACRM
Objectives

Demonstrate an understanding of dance/movement
therapy and its implications in brain injury
rehabilitation

Understand the differences between conventional
physical therapy and dance/movement therapy in
brain injury rehabilitation
Brain Injury ISIG, ACRM
Importance


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Historically, treatment interventions for individuals with brain
injuries have focused on conventional modalities including
physical, occupational, and speech therapies, and cognitive
rehabilitation
Much of the current research indicates there is a significant need
to determine which treatment methods are most effective in
ameliorating the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial
consequences of individuals with brain injuries resulting in
optimal long-term outcome
Meaningful measurement systems need to address individual
satisfaction, long-term outcome, and quality of and satisfaction
with life
Purpose of the Study
To better understand the dynamics of a therapeutic
dance/movement intervention for individuals with
brain injuries by comparing it to a conventional
physical therapy intervention using Laban
Movement Analysis (LMA).
Dance and Movement Therapy

The psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote
emotional, cognitive, physical, and social integration
of individuals

D/M Therapy is practiced in mental health,
rehabilitation, medical, educational, and forensic
settings, and in nursing homes, day care centers,
disease prevention and health promotion programs
Brain Injury ISIG, ACRM
Laban Movement Analysis

Systematic approach to observing, describing, and analyzing
quantitative and qualitative changes in human movement
through Body, Effort, Space, and Shape (BESS)

Provides a comprehensive language and analytic framework for
the description and recording of human movement
Body, Effort, Space and Shape


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Body describes the action of the torso and limbs by observing
body attitude, whole body and body part movement, and
developmental patterns
Body Attitude – The BESS baseline. General and specific
impression of maintained or constantly recurring postural
characteristics
Whole Body – Homologous, homolateral, contralateral,
trunk/limb relationship, use of trunk, posture gesture merger
Use of Body Parts – carriage, gesture vs. support, body part
awareness, limb relationship, center of gravity
Developmental Patterns – naval radiation, spinal, breath
support and phrasing, core support, weight shift, spatial intent
Brain Injury ISIG, ACRM
Effort
Effort describes how the body concentrates its exertion as the body
changes in its quality of movement through Time, Weight,
Space, and Flow
Effort
Space
Weight
Time
Flow
Indulging
Indirect
Light
Sustained
Free
Condensing
Direct
Strong
Quick
Bound
Brain Injury ISIG, ACRM
Space and Shape

Space describes the location, amount and symmetry of the
external space one uses during movement which includes space
harmony, one’s outer architecture, and one’s kinesphere

Shape describes the movement of the body’s internal
components in supporting or influencing external activity such
as with one’s inner architecture, shape flow, directional
movements, and shaping qualities
Movement Themes
 Inner/Outer
 Exertion/Recuperation
 Mobile/Stable
 Function/Expression
Bodily-kinesthetic Learning


Historically, treatment interventions for individuals
with TBI have concentrated on the physical,
cognitive, and behavioral effects resulting from
injury through the provision of physical,
occupational, and speech therapies.
Much less focus has been placed on integrating all
these domains and including the psychosocial needs
of individuals with brain injuries to create an
integrated mind and body approach to rehabilitation.
Findings
What are the similarities and differences between the dynamics of
physical therapy and therapeutic dance/movement as
interventions for individuals with brain injuries?


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Physical therapy intervention lends itself to the observation, analysis,
and treatment of the biomechanical aspects of movement from a
functional single joint action and muscle activity perspective
Physical therapy intervention helps strengthen and stretch specific
muscle groups
Dance/movement intervention observes, analyses, and treats
individuals from a whole body-mind (integrating physical, cognitive,
and psychosocial components), Functional and Expressive perspective
Findings Continued
What are the dynamics of the therapeutic dance/movement
intervention?
 LMA Components
 Core and Breath Support and Grounding
 Aspects of Shape (Shape Flow, Directional Movement,
Shaping)
 Effort-Life
Movement Themes
 Whole/Part
 Inner/Outer
 Function/Expression
 Exertion/Recuperation
 Mobility/Stability
Findings Continued


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Dynamics are multi-faceted
Individual movement patterns remained fairly constant
however, at times, we appeared to embody aspects of each
other’s Effort-Life and sense of rhythm as we shared in each
other’s Kinesphere
Shaping was used to connect with each other especially when
using touch to support movement
Relationships and relating to each other contributed to the
overall dynamic interaction
Promoted creative and expressive experiences to feel and sense
one’s self and others within a safe and supportive group
environment
Facilitated growth and change
Significance and Meaning

Illumination of a potential rehabilitative intervention using an
integrative-holistic approach to treating individuals with brain
injuries

Introduction to and potential use of measurement system - Laban
Movement Analysis

Witnessing adult learning and human development post brain
injury using a non-conventional therapeutic intervention
Questions

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To what extent would an individual’s perceived quality of life
improve if each brain injury treatment intervention employed a
holistic-integrative perspective within their specialty areas?
Would it be valuable for each brain injury intervention to
measure an individual’s quality of life in addition to measuring
discrete components such as range of motion, procedural
memory, or performance of activities of daily living?
To what extent is a treatment modality considered efficacious if
the intervention is not contributing to the individual’s sense of
improved quality of life?
Could LMA be a meaningful system for measuring an
individual’s long-term outcome and quality of life?
Foundations in Adult TBI
Effects of TBI on underlying brain structures and
function, and adjustments needed for (re)learning.
Effects of TBI on family, work, and society. Role of
societal agents in rehabilitation and rediscovery
processes. Attention to injuries from war, sports,
accidents, and other causes.
 Understanding adulthood pre and post TBI
 Understanding the experience from multiple
perspectives
 Learning adjustments in adulthood
Issues in Adult TBI
 Advances
in TBI practice, policy, and
research
 Translating theory into practice
 Relevance of rehabilitative challenges and
practices to theory
 Raising awareness, understanding, and action
in society at-large
 International efforts and societal implications
Internship/Independent Study
 Independent
studies must be related to TBI
and must follow completion of both the
Foundations and Issues courses
 In lieu of an independent study, an internship
may be available on a selected basis where
qualified on-site supervisors are available
Profiles of Therapeutic
Interventions
Mobility/
Stability
Effort-Life
Whole/Part
Inner/
Outer
Core/B.
Support
Grounding
Exertion/
Recuperation
Aspects of
Shape
Stability
for
Mobility
Body
Level
Connect.
Single
Joint
Actions
Exertion/
Recuperation
What are the dynamics of the therapeutic dance/movement
intervention?
 LMA Components
 Core and Breath Support and Grounding
 Aspects of Shape (Shape Flow, Directional Movement,
Shaping)
 Effort-Life
Movement Themes
 Whole/Part
 Inner/Outer
 Function/Expression
 Exertion/Recuperation