Search Results (31)

Although laboratory testing to assess aerobic capacity has been a ‘gold standard’ in sports science, its high costs and time-consuming protocols may not be feasible for monitoring and tracking progress in limited conditions. In dancesport athletes, several field-based aerobic tests have been proposed, but the majority of them have been developed for ballet or contemporary dancers at the individual level, while the data among dance couples engaging in standard dance styles is lacking. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to validate a newly developed Ballroom Aerobic Test (BAT) protocol against objective methods. Twelve standard dancesport couples (age: 20.4 ± 3.9 years; height: 172.1 ± 8.7 cm; weight: 60.1 ± 9.4 kg) with 8.2 ± 3.4 years of training and competing experience participated in this study. Ventilatory and metabolic parameters were generated using the MetaMax^® 3B portable gas analyzer (the BAT), while the KF1 (an increase in speed by 0.5 km * h⁻¹ by every minute) and Bruce protocols were followed in laboratory-based settings on the running ergometer. Large to very large correlations were obtained between the BAT and KF1/Bruce protocols for the absolute maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max; r = 0.88 and 0.87) and relative VO₂max (r = 0.88 and 0.85), respiratory exchange ratio (RER; r = 0.78 and 0.76), expiratory ventilation (VE; r = 0.86 and 0.79), tidal volume (VT; r = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.57–0.87; p < 0.001), ventilatory equivalent for O₂ (VE/VO₂; r = 0.81 and 0.80) and CO₂ (VE/VCO₂; r = 0.78 and 0.82), and dead space (VD/VT; r = 0.70 and 0.74). The Bland–Altman plots indicated no systematic and proportional biases between the BAT and KF1 protocols (standard error of estimate; SEE = ± 3.36 mL * kg⁻¹ * min⁻¹) and the BAT and Bruce protocols (SEE = ± 3.75 mL * kg⁻¹ * min⁻¹). This study shows that the BAT exhibits satisfactory agreement properties against objective methods and is a valid dance protocol to accurately estimate aerobic capacity in dancesport athletes participating in standard dance styles. Full article

The rate pressure product (RPP) is a non-invasive index of myocardial oxygen consumption, derived from heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP). While aerobic exercise is known to improve cardiovascular efficiency, evidence is limited for racialized populations, particularly African Canadians and South Asians who face elevated cardiovascular risk. Objective: The objective of the study was to examine whether a 10-session dance aerobics program provides a cardiovascular stimulus sufficient to affect RPP and blood pressure responses in these groups. Methods: A total of 160 participants with hypertension or related conditions (80 African Canadians, 80 South Asians) completed 10 sessions of community-based aerobic dance. Pre- and post-intervention measurements of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), HR, and RPP were obtained and analyzed using non-parametric statistical tests. Results: Both groups showed reductions in blood pressure after the intervention. South Asians demonstrated moderate decreases in SBP and RPP, while African Canadians exhibited stable or slightly increased RPP values despite improvements in SBP and DBP. Between-group comparisons showed significant differences in SBP and HR (p < 0.05), but changes in RPP did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). Despite the modest reductions in systolic BP (≥5 mmHg), this may carry clinical significance. Conclusion: This study highlights that blood pressure and RPP responses to exercise may differ across ethnic groups. Short-term dance aerobics effectively reduced blood pressure in both African Canadian and South Asian participants, supporting its role as a culturally adaptable intervention. These findings underline the importance of tailoring exercise recommendations to ethnic and cultural contexts and provide a case for larger studies in a multi-ethnic population. Full article

Introduction: Mental health problems in children and adolescents are a growing public health concern. Aerobic physical activity has been identified as a promising, accessible, and low-cost intervention to promote psychological well-being. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and a pre-registered PROSPERO protocol. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL for randomized controlled trials published until December 2024, with no language restrictions. Eligibility criteria included interventions based on aerobic physical activity among children and adolescents (5–18 years) reporting outcomes on mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, self-esteem, mood, resilience). Methodological quality was assessed with the PEDro scale. Results: From 828 initial records, 21 studies met the inclusion criteria and 19 were included in the meta-analysis. The trials, conducted in diverse countries and settings, applied structured aerobic interventions (e.g., running, dancing, cycling, active games) with durations of 6–30 weeks. The pooled results showed significant improvements in depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and stress, with the largest effects observed in stress reduction and self-esteem enhancement. Conclusions: Aerobic physical activity appears to be an effective and feasible strategy to improve mental health in children and adolescents. Its integration into school and community programs is recommended as a preventive and complementary approach to traditional treatments. Full article

Background: Older adults with mild cognitive impairment are at increased risk for physical decline and falls due to decreased strength, flexibility, balance, and gait. Dance-based aerobic training has emerged as a promising and enjoyable intervention to promote physical function and cognitive stimulation. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a 12-week structured dance-based aerobic program, based on line dancing and Latin rhythms (e.g., salsa, merengue, and bachata), in improving functional capacity and reducing the risk of falls in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 92 participants aged ≥65 years diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. The participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (dance-based training, twice weekly for 12 weeks) or a control group (usual activity). Outcomes included muscle strength (grip dynamometry), flexibility (back scratch and chair sit-and-reach tests), gait speed (Timed Up and Go test), balance (Tinetti scale), and total falls risk score (Tinetti). Mixed ANOVA and Cohen’s d were used for statistical analysis. Results: Significant improvements were observed in the experimental group on all variables compared to the control group. Muscle strength (p < 0.001, d = 0.86), gait speed (p = 0.026, d = 0.48), and upper and lower extremity flexibility (d = 0.43–0.79) improved significantly. The balance and gait components of the Tinetti scale also increased (p = 0.007 and p = 0.048, respectively), as did the total Tinetti score (p = 0.002, d = 0.67), indicating a reduction in the risk of falls. Conclusions: These findings suggest that, under structured conditions, dance-based aerobic training may serve as a promising non-pharmacological strategy to support healthy aging in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, although further validation in larger cohorts is needed. Full article

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study has been to evaluate the effects of a dance-based aerobic training program on frailty, cognitive impairment, executive functions, and verbal fluency in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Methods: Randomized clinical trial, whose sample was made up of 92 older adults, of which 47 performed rhythmic physical activity for 12 weeks. Data on frailty were collected through FRAIL, cognitive function through the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), cognitive impairment through The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), verbal fluency using the Isaac test, and executive functions with the Trail Making Test (TMT). All variables were measured before and after the intervention by an independent researcher blinded to the treatment. Results: Participants in the experimental group showed statistically significant improvements in frailty (Cohen’s d = 0.60), cognitive function (Cohen’s d = 0.98), cognitive impairment (Cohen’s d = 1.22), verbal fluency (Cohen’s d = 0.61) and executive functions (Cohen’s d = 0.64). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that a 12-week dance-based aerobic training program can significantly reduce frailty and improve cognitive abilities in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. These improvements suggest that the intervention is not only effective in terms of physical health, but also in promoting mental health and general well-being. Full article

(1) Background: Mild cognitive impairment in older adults is a condition characterized by a decrease in mental abilities that affects their quality of life. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of an aerobic training program based on dance on depression, sleep quality, and quality of life in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. (2) Methods: This study employed a randomized controlled trial design with a total of 92 older adults with cognitive impairment, randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 47) undergoing dance-based aerobic training and a control group (n = 45) who did not receive any intervention. Depression was assessed using the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale, sleep quality through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and quality of life through the SF-36 questionnaire. (3) Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed in depression (t(46) = 4.783, p = 0.000) and in the PSQI domains: subjective sleep quality (t(46) = 3.333, p = 0.002, and Cohen’s d = 0.35), sleep duration (t(46) = 5.511, p = 0.000, and Cohen’s d = 0.73) and PSQI total score (t(46) = 2.116, p = 0.040, and Cohen’s d = 0.20). Regarding quality of life, improvements were observed in all domains of the questionnaire: the general health (t(46) = −9.374, p = 0.000, and Cohen’s d = 0.03), physical function (t(46) = −9.374, p = 0.000, and Cohen’s d = 0.03), the physical role (t(46) = −5.954, p = 0.000, and Cohen’s d = 1.06), the emotional role (t(46) = −6.200, p = 0.000, and Cohen’s d = 0.80), social function (t(46) = −5.585, p = 0.000, and Cohen’s d = 0.53), physical pain, (t(46) = −9.224, p = 0.000, and Cohen’s d = 1.04), vitality (t(46) = 2.289, p = 0.027, and Cohen’s d = 1.27), mental health, (t(46) = −7.985, p = 0.000, and Cohen’s d = 1.33), the physical summary component, (t(46) = −13.532, p = 0.000, and Cohen’s d = 1.81), and in the mental summary component (t(46) = −10.6 81, p = 0.000, and Cohen’s d = 0.06); (4) Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that they suggest that a dance-based aerobic training program improves mental health and quality of life in older people with mild cognitive impairment, providing a non-pharmacological approach to improve general well-being in this population. Full article

With increasing age, dyslipidemia becomes a common health problem in the middle-aged and elderly population, posing a significant risk of cardiovascular disease. Aerobic exercise, as a non-pharmacological intervention, is considered to be effective in improving blood lipid levels, but the extent to which different types of aerobic exercise affect blood lipids is not clear. This study aims to investigate the effects of 12 different aerobic exercises on total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in middle-aged and elderly people aged 45 years and over through systematic review and Bayesian network Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. We systematically searched relevant databases and included eligible randomized controlled trials. Bayesian network meta-analysis was used to compare the effects of 12 types of aerobic exercise on lipid levels. A total of 487 randomized controlled trials involving middle-aged and elderly people over 45 years old were included. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that all types of aerobic exercise could reduce blood lipid levels compared with no intervention in middle-aged and elderly people. In terms of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, swimming had the most significant effect. For HDL cholesterol, dance showed a better effect. Studies have shown that swimming and dancing have a positive effect on improving blood lipid levels in middle-aged and elderly people. It is recommended to choose the appropriate type of exercise according to personal preference and physical condition. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the impact of an 8-week aerobic dance intervention on postural balance in children. Forty-one children, aged 9 to 11, were randomly assigned to either an aerobic dance group (ADG) or a control group (CG) from a primary school. Postural balance was assessed using center of pressure (CoP) excursions before and after the 8-week intervention period. Evaluations were conducted on both firm and foam surfaces in bipedal and unipedal stances under open-eyes (OE) and closed-eyes (CE) conditions, as well as on both medial–lateral (ML) and anterior–posterior (AP) surfaces in a bipedal stance under OE conditions. The ADG exhibited significantly decreased CoP_Vm values during firm bipedal CE, unipedal OE, foam bipedal OE and CE, and foam unipedal OE (p < 0.005). This study suggests that aerobic dance intervention improved postural balance in children, showcasing adaptability and improved stability under various conditions. Full article

Lately, chairs have been widely used as a cheap, easily accessible, safe, and effective training means in different settings (e.g., in gyms, the house, workplaces, and in rehabilitation). This study investigated the effectiveness of a 10-week chair-based music–kinetic integrated combined exercise program on health, functional capacity, and physical fitness indicators of middle-aged pre-menopausal women. A total of 40 healthy women (40–53 years) were assigned to two groups: exercise (EG) and control (CG). The EG followed a 10-week (3 times/weekly; 30 training sessions) chair-based exercise program including aerobic dance, flexibility, coordination, and strength exercises with body weight or auxiliary means. Selected indicators of health, functional capacity, and physical fitness were evaluated before and after the 10 weeks. Following the program, the EG significantly reduced their body fat (−2.5%), blood pressure (by −4.5 to −5.5%), the time during the timed up-and-go (TUG) test (by −10.27%), heart rate (by −6.35 to −13.78%), and the rate of perceived exertion (by −24.45 to −25.88%), while increasing respiratory function (3.5–4%), flexibility (12.17%), balance (50.38–51.07%), maximal handgrip strength (10–12.17%), and endurance strength (43.87–55.91%). The chair-based combined music–kinetic exercise program was effective and could be safely used in different settings to improve health, functional capacity, and physical fitness in middle-aged women. Full article

Functionality is a crucial aspect of aging that is vital to one’s health and well-being. Older adults often struggle with mobility issues, which increases their risk of injury from falls and other problems. Dancing has the potential to be a physically stimulating activity that may be tailored to older individuals’ ages, physical conditions, and cultural preferences. The study aimed to determine whether dancing programs can improve older adults’ physical and mental health by using technology. Sixty women were divided into two groups at random: a dance group (N = 33; mean age 62.24) and a dance group using technology (N = 27, mean age 67.37). The intervention lasted six months and was performed twice a week for 75-min sessions. Dances were chosen from all over Greece. Participants’ physical and cognitive status was evaluated before and after the intervention. The results show that the dance group improved balance (p = 0.001), lower body strength (p = 0.006) and aerobic capacity (p = 0.006), while the dance group with the use of technology shower greater improvement in the same tests (p = 0.002, p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001). Both groups improved on walking balance and danger of falling (p < 0.0001). Depression (p = 0.007) and sociability (p = 0.001) significantly improved in the dance group. Dance, an enjoyable activity, contributes to the well-being of older adults by maintaining their physical status and functional capacity at acceptable levels. Full article

Previous studies indicated different acute adaptations between obese and lean individuals, while there is limited information with conflicting results regarding long-term adaptations. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of a 3-month integrated combined training between obese and lean middle-aged untrained premenopausal women. In total, 72 women (36 obese/36 lean) were divided into four groups: (a) obese exercise (OB-EG), (b) obese control (OB-CG), (c) lean exercise (L-EG), and (d) lean control (L-CG). The exercise groups followed a 3-month (3 times/week) integrated combined aerobic and strength training program. Health indices (body composition, body circumferences, blood pressure, respiratory function), functional capacity (flexibility, balance), and physical fitness (strength, aerobic capacity) were measured before and after the 3-month time period. Participants’ enjoyment was also assessed following the program. OB-EG and L-EG significantly improved (p < 0.05) similarly across all functional capacity and physical fitness indices (10–76%; depending on the evaluation index), except balance and strength indices of the non-preferred limb where OB-EG showed greater improvement (reducing the existing pre-training strength/balance asymmetries) than L-EG. Furthermore, both obese and lean individuals showed similarly high levels of enjoyment. This program could be effectively used in fitness settings causing similar neuromuscular and cardiovascular adaptations in obese and lean women. Full article

The prevalence of dance-related injuries is high, yet risk factors remain unclear in modern dance. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the continuity and nature of dance programs. The objectives were to investigate factors associated with musculoskeletal injuries in pre-professional modern dancers before and after the pandemic and to qualitatively describe the dancers’ experiences during COVID-19. We examined 31 modern dancers (19.42 ± 1.57 years) pre-COVID-19 and re-examined 21 participants after one-year post-COVID-19, using objective physical tests for upper and lower body strength, aerobic fitness, hip ranges, injury history, and training hours’ data. The injury rate remained mostly unaffected (0.87 ± 0.88 pre-, 0.76 ± 0.83 post-COVID-19), but weekly dance hours were reduced (33 pre-, 21.40 post-COVID-19). Dancers significantly improved their push-up score (p = 0.016) and decreased their compensated turnout (p = 0.022). Notably, non-injured dancers scored higher in the pre-COVID-19 Chester Step Test (p = 0.033) and practiced more strength training independently post-COVID-19 (p = 0.024). No significant differences were found between injured and non-injured dancers in the other parameters. Dancers reported negative thoughts and difficulty maintaining their fitness during the pandemic. In conclusion, strength training and aerobic fitness were identified as potentially important factors related to injury risk in modern dance and should be examined further for their injury prevention value. Full article

Downgrade alterations in the growth hormone (GH) might be involved in the development of some of the fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) symptoms. Our aim was to assess the effects of an aerobic exercise programme on the GH levels in patients with FMS. A randomised controlled trial was developed. Sixty-four Spanish women with FMS were randomly assigned to the experimental arm (n = 33) and treated with a 16-week group physical exercise programme based on low impact aerobic dance (three weekly sessions, one-hour each), or to the treatment-as-usual (TAU) control arm (n = 31). The primary outcome was the GH response to acute exercise. Secondary outcomes were GH basal, sensitivity to pain, body composition, aerobic capacity, and quality of life. The ANCOVA results showed a moderate effect of treatment improving the GH response to acute exercise. Other effects were substantial for aerobic capacity, quality of life, and body composition. Pre-intervention GH response to acute exercise was related to improvements in aerobic capacity and quality of life. An aerobic exercise programme may improve the response of the GH, aerobic capacity, body composition, and quality of life in women with FMS. The normalization of neuro-hormonal patterns involving the GH might be key for improving some FMS symptoms. Full article

There is a lack of evidence about the slow component of oxygen consumption ($\stackrel{.}{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_{2\mathrm{sc}}$) and ventilatory efficiency (slope VE·VCO₂⁻¹) during an aerobic dance (AD) session on an air dissipation platform (ADP) despite the key role played in endurance exercises. This research was designed to assess $\stackrel{.}{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_{2\mathrm{sc}}$, ventilatory efficiency, and blood lactate concentration by comparing two exercise modes: AD session on an ADP versus treadmill test at a constant-load intensity of the first ventilatory threshold (VT1). In the first session, an incremental treadmill test was completed. In sessions 2 and 3, the participants were randomly assigned to the AD session on an ADP or to a treadmill constant-load test at VT1 intensity to determine their cardioventilatory responses. In addition, their blood lactate levels and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE, CR-10) were evaluated. No significant differences were found between the constant-load treadmill test and AD session on an ADP with respect to $\stackrel{.}{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_{2\mathrm{sc}}$, VE VCO₂⁻¹ slope, and RPE (p > 0.05). Higher blood lactate concentrations were observed in an AD session on an ADP than in a constant-load treadmill test at 10 min (p = 0.003) and 20 min (p < 0.001). The two different exercise modalities showed similar $\stackrel{.}{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_{2\mathrm{sc}}$ and VE·VCO₂⁻¹ slope, even though the blood lactate concentrations were different. Full article

Background: In the context of the gradually accelerating aging of the population, the subjective well-being of older adults has received extensive research attention. Guozhuang Dance is a collective aerobic exercise that plays an important role in the physical activity of older Chinese adults. Studying the intrinsic relationship between Guozhuang Dance and the subjective well-being can help improve the quality of life and well-being of older adults in their later years. This study was conducted in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China, where many older adults practice Guozhuang Dance. Previous studies pointed out that group identity and self-efficacy can influence well-being in a collective exercise. Methods: For this study, we recruited 520 adults (male = 228, female = 292) aged 65 years or older from Chengdu who participated in Guozhuang Dance, to conduct a survey to understand the effect of this exercise on their subjective well-being. The Guozhuang Dance exercise scale, the group identity scale, the self-efficacy scale, and the subjective well-being scale were used in the study. We used SPSS for the descriptive statistical analysis, and AMOS for the structural equation modeling. Results: The results of the study show that Guozhuang Dance has a positive effect on enhancing the subjective well-being of older adults and can increase the subjective well-being through the chain mediating effect of group identity and self-efficacy. Conclusions: We suggest that effective measures should be taken to encourage older adults to participate in Guozhuang Dance, in order to enhance their subjective well-being. Full article