Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, School of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy.
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, "Magna Graecia" University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Feb 19;18(4):2036. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18042036.
Ballroom dance practice might play a pivotal role for successful aging, but its effects could differ depending on dancers' experience level. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of six months of ballroom dance (three times/w) on physical fitness and reaction time (RT) in 24 middle-aged adults who are experienced dancers (age: 59.4 ± 11.6 years). Body composition, handgrip test (HG), standing long-jump test (SLJ), step test (ST), one-legged stance balance test (OLSB), and RT were assessed before (T) and after six months (T) of dance practice. RT was re-evaluated four months later (T). RT was significantly (p < 0.05) lower at T (221.2 ± 20.3 ms) and T (212.0 ± 21.9 ms) than T (239.1 ± 40,7 ms); no significant differences were found between T and T. No significant differences were observed for all the other parameters between T and T: weight and muscle mass were significantly lower (p < 0.01) in females than in males, and percentage of fat mass was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in females than in males. HG was significantly higher in males than females (p < 0.01). Results suggest that in experienced middle-aged adults of both genders, ballroom dance may positively influence RT, and this result could be maintained for four months.
交谊舞练习可能对成功老龄化起着关键作用，但它的效果可能因舞者的经验水平而异。本研究旨在调查六个月的交谊舞（每周三次）对 24 名有经验舞者（年龄：59.4 ± 11.6 岁）的身体素质和反应时间（RT）的影响。在舞蹈练习前（T）和六个月后（T）评估身体成分、握力测试（HG）、立定跳远测试（SLJ）、台阶测试（ST）、单腿站立平衡测试（OLSB）和 RT。RT 在 T（221.2 ± 20.3 ms）和 T（212.0 ± 21.9 ms）时显著低于 T（239.1 ± 40.7 ms）（p < 0.05）；T 和 T 之间没有显著差异。在 T 和 T 之间，所有其他参数均无显著差异：女性的体重和肌肉质量明显低于男性（p < 0.01），而女性的体脂百分比明显高于男性（p < 0.01）。男性的 HG 明显高于女性（p < 0.01）。结果表明，在有经验的中年男女中，交谊舞可能对 RT 产生积极影响，并且这种效果可以维持四个月。
