When the band strikes up a tango, people with Parkinson's disease may want to head for the dance floor.

That is the lesson from a new study reporting that when Parkinson's patients took tango classes, their balance improved.

Problems with walking and balance are common among people with the disease, and often lead to falls. Among the difficulties, the researchers said, are shuffling and trouble turning while walking. Patients may experience a sudden ''freezing'' that can either slow them down or stop them entirely. They also have trouble walking while performing another activity at the same time.

The study appears in the December issue of The Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy. The lead author is Madeleine E. Hackney of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

The researchers described what happened when 19 Parkinson's patients were given either 20 tango classes or 20 exercise classes. The exercise class consisted of one hour of movement, much of it in chairs or using chairs for support. The tango class was more vigorous, and focused on stretching, balance, footwork and timing.

Both groups demonstrated general improvement, but only the tango students appeared to do better when it came to balance. The improvement was fairly limited, and the researchers said more study was needed. 

Posted by Eric Naguourney, NYT, february 12, 2008