Structured water dance intervention for adults with profound intellectual and multiple disability: Development and description of the method

Authors

  • Marie Matérne University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
  • André Frank Center for Adult Habilitation services, Region Örebro County, Örebro, Sweden
  • Lars-Olov Lundqvist University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
  • Anna Duberg University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5324/da.v8i1.5003

Keywords:

Profound intellectual and multiple disability (PIMD), dance, physical activity, method description, physiotherapy

Abstract

People with profound intellectual and multiple disability (PIMD) have a combination of severe intellectual disability and extensive physical impairment, which limits their access to health-promoting enjoyable activities, such as dance. For people with PIMD to participate in dance, there is a need for adjustments and support. Thus, to bring dance and music into their everyday life, the Structured Water Dance Intervention (SWAN) was developed in Sweden. This paper aims to describe the development and methodology of SWAN. SWAN was developed from a holistic view on human existence adhering to a bio-psycho-social perspective. Hence, the key components of SWAN are experience of dance and music, adapted movements, stimulation of the senses, and interaction. In SWAN, the person with PIMD participates in the program in a warm water pool under the guidance of two instructors and in close collaboration with a support person who acts as a dance partner. We conclude that SWAN provides a meaningful activity with the potential to increase wellbeing for individuals with PIMD.

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Author Biographies

Marie Matérne, University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden

Marie Matérne has a PhD in Disability Research and is a health care counsellor. She is affiliated researcher to the School of Law, Psychology and Social Work, Örebro University, Sweden. She works part time as a business developer at habilitation and assistive technology and part time as a researcher at Region Örebro County. Her research is about people with disabilities and their living conditions. She focuses on increasing knowledge and to improve the situation of persons with disabilities. Her theoretical base is an interdisciplinary subject which covers a bio-psycho-social perspective. (ORCID: 0000-0002-7048-1925)

André Frank, Center for Adult Habilitation services, Region Örebro County, Örebro, Sweden

André Frank is a physiotherapist at the Center for Adult Habilitation services in Region Örebro County, Sweden, with over 25 years of experience working with patients with various disabilities. He holds a BA in physiotherapy. For the last years he has been part of the research project SWAN in Örebro, in leading the intervention and assisting in the data collection and analysis. He has a particular interest in patients with PIMD and in developing treatment alternatives for that group. (ORCID: 0000-0001-7099-9719)

Lars-Olov Lundqvist, University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden

Lars-Olov Lundqvist (PhD) is an associate professor of Psychology and professor of Disability Research at Örebro University, and a research leader at the University Healthcare Research Center at Region Örebro County. His major research focus is on mental health issues in disability and psychiatric health care, including studies on affective responses to aesthetic expressions (mostly music) and social interactions. As principal investigator in various projects (including the SWAN), he has a particularly strong interest in being able to contribute through research to improving the quality of life for people with profound disabilities, such as those with PIMD. (ORCiD: 0000-0002-6703-7575)

Anna Duberg, University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden

Anna Duberg (PhD and physiotherapist in psychiatry) is a research supervisor at the University Healthcare Research Center at Region Örebro County, affiliated to the School of Health Sciences at Örebro University. Anna currently also works in Social Impact Lab, an innovation program with focus on social sustainability. Her thesis from 2016 illuminates how participation in dance can influence health for youth, and the method called "Dance for Health" is today implemented nationally in Sweden as a complement to school health care. Her main research interest lies within improving quality of life and mental health through physical activity and movement for deprived target groups. (ORCID: 0000-0002-5452-1923)

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Published

2022-12-15

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 1 (2022): Special issue: DANCE, HEALTH, AND WELLBEING

Section

Peer-reviewed articles