DANCE INTO WELLBEING
Low levels of physical activity and poor social connection and motivation are major health concerns for our ageing population. Wellbeing in Motion dance classes aim to address these concerns.
Physical and cognitive aims and benefits:
to improve and maintain daily functioning, contributing to falls prevention
provide cognitive stimulation, through memory recall, creativity and imagination (for example; for those with or at risk of developing Dementia)
improve gait and tremor (for example; for those with Parkinson’s Disease)
develop strength and stamina
improve ability to maintain functional mobility whilst dual tasking
increase flexibility (greater range of movement)
improve postural stability and balance
create opportunities to explore different movement energies and patterns
improve fluency of movement, mobility and coordination
Benefits and aims; motivation and social connection:
to provide a social event/ avenue that is engaging, fun and expressive
encourage and provide a means for positive social interaction and inclusion
help to develop new relationships, and deepen existing relationships
offer a shared positive group exercise experience
ensure visibility, dignity and empowerment for older people
improve self-esteem, confidence and motivation
enable a sense of independence and self-agency.
through dancing as a group, develop and sustain community connection.
The Evidence is Strong:
Research shows that regular physical activity reduces cardiovascular risk, helps maintain muscular strength, bone density and joint health, and helps to reduce stress, anxiety and prevent depression. (1)
Recent UK research demonstrates that dance classes provide a more engaging and motivating option for many who are at risk of discontinuing physical activity. It does this by combining physical activity with social interaction, creativity and artistic expression. (2).
Neuroscientists have discovered that the creative thinking utilised whilst dancing creates new neural synapses and pathways in the brain, reducing the risk factors for dementia and producing positive results in mental acuity. (10).
Low levels of physical activity in our ageing population can to lead to loss of muscular strength, mobility, balance, stamina, and control, and further increase risk factors such as chronic disease, falls, fear of falling, confidence, anxiety and depression. Research shows that regular physical activity reduces cardiovascular risk, helps maintain muscular strength, bone density and joint health, and helps to reduce stress, anxiety and prevent depression to improve mental wellbeing. (1)
Recent research in the UK suggests that older participants quickly lose the benefits gained in exercise programs when they discontinue the activity. Whilst the numerous benefits gained through physical activity are largely known and accepted by older people, many find it difficult to remain motivated and maintain enthusiasm for ongoing exercise regimes. This study demonstrated that dance classes provide a more engaging and motivating option for many by presenting programs that combine physical activity with social interaction, creativity and artistic expression. The dance programs studied achieved a 33% higher completion rate at 73% compared to non-dance exercise programs which achieved only 40%. (2)
A growing body of evidence-based research demonstrates that dance programs can provide increased motivation and social connectedness, whilst achieving very low attrition rates. Regular dance activity provides a range of physical benefits including improved physical condition, muscular strength and endurance, balance, mobility as well as social connectedness in older adults. (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).
Neuroscientists have discovered that dance improves cognitive function and leads to improvements in proprioception, memory consolidation, learning and spatial navigation and subsequently to improvements in balance and gait. Scientists have also deduced that the creative thinking utilised whilst dancing stimulates the creation of new neural synapses and pathways in the brain, reducing the risk factors for dementia and producing positive results in mental acuity. (10)
Dance inherently embodies many types of neural stimulation including auditory, sensory, cognitive and physical stimulation and challenges the brain centres responsible for rhythmic motor coordination, balance, social interaction, musical experience, memory, perception and expression of emotions. Due to the vast amounts of sensory input, dancing also presumably improves the overall integration of visual, sensorimotor, and vestibular information. (11)
References
1.VIC Health. 2020 Active Ageing Retrieved from https://www.health.vic.gov.au/wellbeing-and-participation/active-ageing
2. People Dancing. (2016). Older people' s dance activities - the first UK survey. Retrieved from https://www.communitydance.org.uk/content/41324/Live/Older%20People's%20Dance%20Activities.pdf.p.4.
3. Hwang, P.W., & Braun, K. L. (2015). The effectiveness of dance interventions to improve older adults' health: a systematic review. Altern.Ther.Health Med. 21(5), 64–7 0.
4. Hui, E., Chui, B. T., & Woo, J. (2009). Effects of dance on physical and psychological well-being in older persons. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. 49 (1), e 45- e 50.
5. Young, C. M., Weeks, B. K. & Beck, B. R. (2007). Simple, novel physical activity maintains proximal femur bone mineral density, and improves muscle strength and balance in sedentary, postmenopausal Caucasian women. Osteoporosis International. 18(10), 1379-1387. doi:10.1007/s00198- 007-0400-6
6. Keogh, J., Kilding, A., Pidgeon, P., Ashley, L. & Gillis, D. (2009). Physical benefits of dancing for healthy older adults: a review. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. 17 (4), 479-500 doi:10.1123/japa.17.4.479
7. Miller, E. & Buys, L. (2007). Predicting older Australians' leisure- time physical activity: impact of residence, retirement village versus community , on walking, swimming, dancing and lawn bowling. Activities, Adaption & Aging. 31 (3), 13 -30. doi: 10. 1300/J016 v31n 03_02
8. Merom, D., Cumming, R., Mathieu, E., Anstey, K. J., Rissel, C., Simpson, J. M., Morton, R. L., Cerin, E., Sherrington, C. & Lord S. R. (20 13) Can social dancing prevent falls in older adults? a protocol of the Dance, Aging, Cognition, Economics (DAnCE) fall prevention randomisedcontrolled trial. BM C Public Health. 13 (1), 477. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-477
9. People Dancing. (2016). Older people' s dance activities - the first UK survey. Retrieved from https://www.communitydance.org.uk/content/41324/Live/Older%20People's%20Dance%20Activities.pdf
10. Verghese, J., Lipton, R., Katz, M., Hall, C., Derby, C., Kuslansky, G., Ambrose, A., Sliwinski, M. & Buschke, H. (2003). Leisure activities and the risk of Dementia in the elderly. The New England Journal of Medicine. 348(25), 2508-2516. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa022252
11. Heiberger, L., Maurer, C., Amtage, F., Mendez-Balbuena, I., Schulte-Mönting, J., Hepp-Reymond, M. & Kristeva, R. (2011). Impact of a weekly dance class on the functional mobility and on the quality of life of individuals with Parkinson's disease. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. 3(14). p. 11 .