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Capoeira: more than martial art - a therapeutical tool for Parkinson!
- CM. Boaz
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
How the Brazilian World Cultural Heritage Brings Body and Mind into Motion
Authors: Dr. med. vet. Boaz Abraham & Physiotherapist Margarida Bela
In recent years, Capoeira, the Brazilian martial art characterized by rhythmic movements, music, and a playful spirit, has gained attention in Parkinson’s rehabilitation. But what makes it so special?
1. Rhythm and Music as a Driving Force
Instruments, clapping, and singing provide auditory cues that make it easier to initiate and maintain movement. This can significantly reduce typical Parkinson’s symptoms such as bradykinesia or freezing (more on that below). In addition, music stimulates multiple senses, further enhancing and solidifying Capoeira’s holistic therapeutic effect.
2. Varied Movements
Capoeira emphasizes flowing, multidirectional movements. These promote joint mobility, relieve muscle stiffness, and strengthen flexibility.
3. Balance and Coordination
Typical Capoeira movements involve shifting weight and transitioning between positions. This trains both fine and gross motor skills and improves responsiveness when balance is lost.
4. Community and Cognitive Activation
The group setting, music, and interaction foster a sense of belonging, boost motivation, and simultaneously train attention, memory, and movement planning.
5. Promoting Neuroplasticity
The combination of rhythm, movement variety, and repetition can support neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to form new connections and improve motor control.
Conclusion: A Holistic Approach
Capoeira unites body, mind, and community in a unique form of movement therapy. For people with Parkinson’s, it offers not only physical benefits such as improved mobility and balance but also social and emotional enrichment.
Important: Capoeira is not a replacement for traditional physiotherapy but a meaningful complement to it. When applied appropriately, this vibrant and culturally rich practice can sustainably enhance the quality of life, independence, and well-being of people living with Parkinson’s.
Do you have Parkinson’s yourself? Or are you a therapist interested in Capoeira as a therapeutic tool for your patients?
Send us a short message — we’d love to hear from you!
SRF article about Parkinson & Capoeira:
Authors:
Margarida Bela ("Grida") holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy from the University of Porto, Portugal. She has been practicing in Zurich since 2022 and specializes in neurological disorders, with a particular focus on patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Grida has practiced Capoeira for many years and is a certified instructor with the Swiss Center for Capoeira. She has long been successfully integrating specific Capoeira elements, such as rhythm, coordination, and selected movement sequences, into her physiotherapy work with Parkinson’s patients.
Dr. med. vet. Boaz Abraham is the founder and director of the Swiss Center for Capoeira. He holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine and lectures at university level. His Capoeira teaching experience spans over 20 years, including work with individuals with various illnesses and disabilities in collaboration with medical practices, care institutions, and university faculties.
Understanding Parkinson’s: The Most Common Symptoms
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that profoundly affects the lives of those diagnosed. Typical symptoms include:
Tremor: Involuntary shaking, often starting in the hands, which makes everyday activities more difficult.
Bradykinesia: A significant slowing of movement, making walking or initiating motion laborious.
Rigidity: Muscle stiffness that limits mobility, causes pain, and affects balance.
In addition, postural instability, coordination difficulties, and severe fatigue often occur. This combination can significantly reduce quality of life.
Physiotherapy as a Key Treatment
Physiotherapy plays a central role in the management of Parkinson’s disease. Its main goals are to:
* Improve mobility and gait patterns
* Reduce muscle stiffness
* Enhance balance and prevent falls
* Maintain daily living skills and independence
* Stimulate neuroplasticity through rhythmic and goal-oriented movement
Training methods typically include gait training, balance exercises, strength and breathing exercises, and functional, everyday-oriented tasks. Rhythm and external cues, whether auditory, visual, or tactile, are especially effective, as they help overcome movement blocks.
Referenzen:
AP News. (2023). In Brazil, Parkinson’s patients find joy, therapy in capoeira. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/health-parkinsons-disease-capoeira-brazil66f6cf2a7b9d4d08943a5a8e7a24c2b6
Araújo, J. S., & Jácome, C. (2022). Capoeira: Hypothesis on health rehabilitation and qualityof-life. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 898268. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.898268
de Dreu, M. J., van der Wilk, A. S., Poppe, E., Kwakkel, G., & van Wegen, E. E. H. (2012). Rehabilitation, exercise therapy and music in patients with Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Neurology, 259(5), 933–943. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-011-6297-0
de Natale, E. R., Paulus, K. S., Aiello, E., Sanna, B., Manca, A., Sotgiu, G., & Deriu, F. (2017). Dance therapy improves motor and cognitive functions in patients with Parkinson’s disease. NeuroRehabilitation, 40(1), 141–144. https://doi.org/10.3233/NRE-161399
Pacchetti, C., Mancini, F., Aglieri, R., Fundarò, C., Martignoni, E., & Nappi, G. (2000). Active music therapy in Parkinson’s disease: An integrative method for motor and emotional rehabilitation. Psychosomatic Medicine, 62(3), 386–393.