Dance Interventions Designed by Allied Health Professionals to Improve Health-Related Outcomes of Children and Youth with Disabilities: A Scoping Review

AIMS: To systematically map the design, purpose, and outcomes of dance, circus, and physical theater programs designed by allied health professionals for children and youth with disabilities. METHODS: Following PRISMA-scoping review guidelines, seven databases were searched up to April 2026 for studies published in peer-reviewed journals. Intervention design was reported using the "INgredients iN ArTs in hEalth" framework. Participants ranged from 3 to 23 years of age. Seventy percent of studies focused on school-aged children with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and autism. Programs spanned 6-36 sessions (4-54 h). All studies reported improvements in physical outcome measures. CONCLUSION: Allied health professional designed dance programs may positively influence physical outcomes in children and youth with disabilities. Future research should expand on the scope of health conditions, include preschool children and older youth, and focus on higher quality studies that include standardized intervention reporting, address project sustainability, and participant-focused outcomes.