Browsing by Author "Holttinen, Meri"

Objective: Survivors of traumatic brain injury often experience a significant burden of disabling sequelae which require rehabilitation. A dance-based intervention could be beneficial for those with various sequelae as dance has the potential of improving both motor and cognitive functions. The focus of this pro gradu thesis is on the potential of using dance-based intervention in severe traumatic brain injury. The objective is to examine how the benefits of the intervention experienced by the injured and those close to them are related to their self-reported executive functions, quality of life, and the amount of change in the scores during the intervention. The second objective is to examine the self-awareness of the injured and its relationship to the subjectively experienced benefits of the intervention. Methods: 11 participants initiated the intervention but since there was one drop-off and two participants with a considerable amount of data missing the final sample size was 8—9 depending on the analysis. The participants were provided with individual dance sessions for three months. Executive functions, quality of life and the subjectively experienced benefits of the intervention were measured by self-report. Self-awareness was measured by comparing the self-rated competency of the injured to the ratings of those close to them. The scores were analysed using a repeated multilevel model. Results: Those close to the injured who reported more executive problems were the ones that experienced most benefits of the dance-based intervention. The result was significant in both the Behavioural regulation and Metacognitive index of BRIEF-A. The significant subscales were Inhibition, Initiate and Plan/organize. In addition, according to some of the analysis, the number of reported problems in working memory and emotional control decreased during the intervention. On the other hand, the self-reported quality of life was not related to the subjectively experienced benefits of the intervention and there was no statistically significant change in the scores during the intervention. According to some of the analysis, the injured rated their competency higher than those close to them which is a sign of impaired self-awareness. However, impaired self-awareness was not related to the subjectively experienced benefits of the intervention. Conclusions: The dance-based intervention is potentially beneficial in the rehabilitation of executive functions and it might alleviate everyday problems of working memory and emotional control. Impaired self-awareness did not affect the subjectively experienced benefits of the intervention so it could be applied also in the rehabilitation of brain-injured with impaired self-awareness. Dance has the potential to alleviate both physical and cognitive sequelae.