The effectiveness of art therapy on motor function in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

<h4>Objective</h4>This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of art therapy interventions in improving motor function performance in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD), with a focus on identifying the most effective modalities.<h4>Method</h4>Randomized controlled trials were identified through searches in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Twenty-six studies were included, assessed for quality, and analyzed following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42024611770). Subgroup analyses were performed for primary outcomes (UPDRS, TUG, Mini-BESTest), while secondary outcomes (Stride Length, FOG, 6MWT, and Gait Speed) were evaluated using forest and funnel plots to estimate pooled effects.<h4>Results</h4>Art therapy significantly improved motor function, as evidenced by reductions in UPDRS III scores (SMD = -0.44, 95% CI [-0.61, -0.26], <i>p</i> < 0.05), TUG scores (SMD = -0.25, 95% CI [-0.41, -0.10], <i>p</i> < 0.05), and increases in Mini-BESTest scores (SMD = 0.41, 95% CI [0.10, 0.72], <i>p</i> < 0.05). Among the interventions, dance therapy demonstrated the most significant effects on motor function (UPDRS III: SMD = -0.52, 95% CI [-0.78, -0.26], <i>p</i> < 0.05; TUG: SMD = -0.37, 95% CI [-0.58, -0.17], <i>p</i> < 0.05; Mini-BESTest: SMD = 0.56, 95% CI [0.25, 0.87], <i>p</i> < 0.05). Secondary outcomes revealed small to moderate improvements in gait speed (SMD = 0.34, <i>p</i> < 0.05), 6MWT (SMD = 0.41, <i>p</i> < 0.05), FOG (SMD = -0.33, <i>p</i> < 0.05), and stride length (SMD = 0.59, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Although the findings were robust, high heterogeneity in certain outcomes highlights the need for standardized intervention protocols to ensure consistency and reproducibility.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This study underscores the clinical significance of art therapy in improving motor functions in PD patients. Among the interventions, dance therapy exhibited the most pronounced effects, highlighting its potential as a pivotal component in multidisciplinary neurorehabilitation programs.<h4>Systematic review registration</h4>https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024611770, identifier (CRD42024611770).