Energy Expenditure Characteristics Of Chinese Square Dance

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the energy expenditure characteristics of three different types of square dance (ballet style, Tibetan dance and aerobic dance). METHODS: 32 Chinese adults volunteered the test, including 17 women (mean ± SD: 21.4 ± 2.6 yrs,167.9 ± 3.9 cm, 56.2 ± 4.19 kg) and 15 men (22.3 ± 1.8 yrs, 177.7 ± 5.1 cm, 69.5 ± 7.0 kg). All participants performed 3 different kinds of square dance routines . Height, weight and body composition were assessed before the testing session. Gas exchange and heart rate (HR) were recorded using indirect calorimetry (Meta Max 3B, Cortex Biophysic, Leipzig, Germany) and HR monitor (V800, Polar, Finland) continuously before, during and after each test. Energy expenditure (EE), metabolic equivalent of energy (METs), HR and post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) were collected and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: EE, METs, HR and EPOC of aerobic dance were significant higher than ballet style and Tibetan dance (p < 0.05) (Data showed in Table 1). EE (ballet style: 5.99 ± 1.11 vs. 4.63 ± 0.76; Tibetan dance: 6.41 ± 1.27 vs. 4.65 ± 0.76; aerobic dance: 8.46 ± 1.53 vs. 6.12 ± 0.78) and EPOC (ballet style: 1.75 ± 0.50 vs. 1.42 ± 0.31; Tibetan dance: 2.20 ± 0.76 vs. 1.56 ± 0.21; aerobic dance: 2.65 ± 1.16 vs. 1.81 ± 0.30) of male were higher than female of each square dance (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in METs between genders (ballet style: 5.06 ± 0.88 vs. 5.48 ± 0.79; Tibetan dance: 5.45 ± 1.10 vs. 5.59 ± 0.92; aerobic dance: 7.14 ± 1.27 vs. 7.22 ± 0.77, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Square dance is a moderate-to-vigorous-intensity activity, which is related to the type. The energy expenditure and post-exercise oxygen consumption of the three dances are affected by gender, and males are higher than females.