Dance Movement Therapy

Suggested

2 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Suggested2 studies

Dance movement therapy buffers stress and pain during breast cancer radiotherapy

Two studies encompassing over 800 breast cancer patients support dance movement therapy as a complementary intervention during treatment. A randomized, controlled, single-blind trial of 139 Chinese patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy found that six 1.5-hour DMT sessions delivered twice weekly over three weeks significantly buffered deterioration in perceived stress, pain severity, and pain interference, with small-to-medium effect sizes (Cohen d = 0.34–0.36, P < 0.05). A systematic review of 9 controlled studies (680 patients) identified dance movement therapy among creative modalities providing short-term psychological support during active breast cancer treatment. While DMT did not significantly improve anxiety, depression, fatigue, or sleep disturbance in the RCT, it offers a non-pharmacological option for managing stress and pain during radiotherapy courses.

Evidence

Terapias artísticas y creativas en la mejora del malestar psicológico en mujeres con cáncer de mama. Revisión sistemática

Authors: Chamarro Lusar, Andrés, Rabadán, Jennifer, Álvarez Moleiro, María

Published: January 1, 2017

Within a systematic review of 9 controlled studies (RCTs and quasi-experimental designs) involving 680 breast cancer patients, 2 studies specifically evaluated dance movement therapy for psychological distress. The review covered literature from 2010-2016 across PubMed, Web of Science, PsychInfo, and Google Academic. Dance movement therapy was identified among the creative therapy modalities showing short-term complementary benefit during the breast cancer treatment phase. Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed across all included studies, with the authors concluding that artistic and creative therapies provide short-term psychological support, while acknowledging the need for additional trials to define efficacy of each specific modality.

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Effects of a Short-Term Dance Movement Therapy Program on Symptoms and Stress in Patients With Breast Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Randomized, Controlled, Single-Blind Trial

Authors: Cheung, IKM, Fong, TCT, Ho, RTH, Luk, MY, Yip, PSF

Published: January 1, 2016

A randomized, controlled, single-blind trial enrolled 139 Chinese patients with breast cancer awaiting adjuvant radiotherapy. Participants were randomized to either a dance movement therapy (DMT) group or a control group. The intervention consisted of six 1.5-hour DMT sessions delivered twice weekly over the three-week radiotherapy course. DMT showed significant effects on buffering deterioration in perceived stress, pain severity, and pain interference, with small-to-medium effect sizes (Cohen d = 0.34–0.36, P < 0.05). No significant effects were observed for anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, or quality of life (P > 0.05).

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