Several trials conducted on older adults confirmed the positive effect of dance on balance observed in professional dancers [34]. A 12-week aerobic dance program improved cardiorespiratory endurance, strength/endurance, body agility, flexibility, body fat, and balance in 53 sedentary older women [35].

 

Another recent trial enrolled 20 participants to the intervention and 18 controls, all highly independent in the activities of daily living. The intervention consisted in a dance-based aerobic exercise for 60 minutes, 3 days a week, for 12 weeks. Compared to controls, participants in the intervention improved balance (single-leg balance with eyes closed and functional reach) and locomotion/agility (walking around two cones). The attendance level was high: 78.8% attended all classes, and not a single participant withdrew from the class [36].

Low impact aerobic dance has also been demonstrated effective for weight loss in mildly obese middle-aged women. Sixty middle-aged Japanese women were enrolled in a 3-month weight-loss program consisting of diet and exercise prescription [37]. The effect of low impact aerobic dance resulted comparable to jogging/cycling in leading a significant reduction of body mass and % fat but preserving free-fat mass.

 

A recent cross-sectional observational study of older social dancers showed a positive association between this kind of leisure activity and a better balance and a more stable pattern during walking (a longer stride, a reduced stance and double support time, and increased swing time), compared with older non-dancers [38]. This type of gait pattern is associated with a reduction in the risk of falling [39].

 

In a previous longitudinal study social dancing provided a protective factor against the development of dementia in older adults [38].

 

A nationwide report from the CDC, based in a telephonic interview with more than 5000 respondents, assessed the rate of injuries for different type of exercise (walking, gardening, weightlifting, bicycling and aerobic dancing). The reported injuries in the previous 30 days for all the activities were low, being aerobic dancing among the activities with the lowest rate (1.4%). Neither sex- and age-group-specific rates nor activity-reducing injuries incidence rate could be calculated for aerobic dancing because of the too few reported injuries for this kind of activity [40].