Absolute and Relative Energy Expenditure of Experienced Ballroom Dancers

Abstract

Previous studies have the determined the energy expenditure (EE) of recreational ballroom dancing. These values may underestimate the EE of more experienced ballroom dancers. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine absolute and relative EE from experienced ballroom dancers to contribute to the compendium of physical activities. METHODS: Participants consisted of 18 experienced lead (men = 9) and follow (women = 9) dancers (25 ± 5 years). Prior to dancing, resting metabolic data was collected to establish a baseline. Each couple then performed a series of ballroom dances (swing, cha-cha, salsa, waltz and foxtrot), performed in a randomized order. Each dance lasted 5-minutes in duration and was separated by a 3-mintue recovery period. Throughout the entirety of testing, oxygen uptake was collected simultaneously on both lead and follow dancers via portable indirect calorimetry to determine absolute and relative EE. RESULTS: Absolute and relative EE for the individual dances were as follows: Lead swing = 9.0 ± 0.5 METS, 0.1538 ± 0.0009 kcals/kg/min, follow swing = 7.9 ± 0.8METS, 0.1325 ± 0.0132 kcals/kg/min; lead cha-cha = 8.4 ± 0.4 METS, 0.1437 ± 0.0007 kcals/kg/min, follow cha-cha = 7.5 ± 0.5 METS, 0.1265 ± 0.0008 kcals/kg/min; lead salsa = 8.1 ± 0.5 METS, 0.1369 ± 0.0009 kcals/kg/min, follow salsa = 7.5 ± 0.7 METS, 0.1275 ± 0.0120 kcals/kg/min; lead waltz = 7.4 ± 0.5 METS, 0.1263 ± 0.008 kcals/kg/min, follow waltz = 6.8 ± 0.5 METS, 0.1142 ± 0.0008 kcals/kg/min; lead foxtrot = 6.4 ± 0.4 METS, 0.1078 ± 0.0007 kcals/kg/min, follow foxtrot = 7.5 ± 0.5 METS, 0.1036 ± 0.0008 kcals/kg/min. CONCULSION: The data demonstrate that recreational ballroom dancing by experienced lead and follow dancers, regardless of the style, is considered vigorous physical activity.