The effect of the intervention dance program on the level of functional fitness and postural stability in elderly

Abstract

Objective: The major objective of this study was to investigate the influence of six months dance intervention program on the level of functional fitness and postural stability in the elderly.Methods: The exercise program was carried out three times a week and included 60 dance exercise sessions. 60 elderly participated in the study (67.5±5.69 years), 30 in a dance intervention group (weight: 70.32±13.59kg; BMI 25.95±3.79 kg/m2), 30 in a control group (weight: 76. 93±15.45kg; BMI 27.06±3.88 kg/m2). Three subtests were used to determine the level of functional fitness from the Senior fitness test battery; the static posturography method assessed the level of balance abilities in one position.Results: The most meaningful results to emerge from the data are that the intervention dance program led to a post-exercise increase in the level of agility, dynamic balance and reaction speed measured by 8 Foot up Go test in the dance group. The results indicate a statistically significant difference value in the dance group compared to the control group between post-test results (p=0.01). Values of the other monitored parameters were not statistically significant. The Cohen coefficient d reflects the low or medium value of the intervention program's effectiveness.Conclusions: Even if the dance intervention program did not have a more significant effect on the level of the tested parameters, we must state that only a slight improvement or a steady level of functional fitness and postural stability is a positive result in this age. Keywords: aging, dance, Senior fitness test, motor abilities, balance ability