Health Benefits of Dance Exercise

Effects of a 6-month Dance Exercise Intervention on Physical Performance, Metabolic and Mental Health in Pre- and Post-menopausal Women

In Greece, people of different age groups, including young children to older adults, participate in dance exercise training. Although it is well-known that regular participation in dancing is associated with benefits such as entertainment, socialization and increased physical activity, the long-term effects of dancing on metabolic and mental health as well as physical performance remain largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a 6-month dancing exercise intervention on metabolic and mental health and physical performance in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Twenty premenopausal and twenty postmenopausal inactive women meeting the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to a Control (n=20) or an Experimental group (n=20). The Control group will maintain their habitual physical activity level without participating in any form of exercise training. The Experimental group will participate in two weekly dance exercise training sessions over a 6-month period. Each session will be performed under supervision and include a 10-min warm up (2-3 dances of very slow tempo), a 45-min main dance exercise session (~15 dances of various tempos i.e. slow, moderate and fast tempo) and a 5-min cool-down period (walking and stretching). Heart rate will be continuously monitored during each session by using heart rate monitors while the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) will be recorded at the end of each session. In addition, prior to the second dance exercise session in each week, participants' delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) and wellness status (through the wellness report) will be evaluated. Prior to (Baseline) and after the intervention period (at 6 months) participants of both groups (Control and Experimental) will undergo resting blood sampling and assessment of their (i) anthropometrics, (ii) body composition, (iii) physical performance, (iv) physical activity level, (v) dietary intake, (vi) quality of life and (vii) mental health.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Free of musculoskeletal injuries
• Free of chronic non-communicable diseases
• Normal menstrual cycle (for premenopausal women)
• No recent childbirth (previous 12 months) (for premenopausal women)
• At least 12 months since the oncet of menopause (for postmenopausal women)
• Non smokers

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy (for premenopausal women)
• Contraindications to exercise training
• Illness or other medical condition
• Use of medication