The effect of ballroom dance on balance and functional autonomy among the isolated elderly.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of a ballroom dancing program on the functional autonomy and physical balance of institutionalized elderly individuals. The study enrolled 75 sedentary elderly subjects from long-term institutions who were randomly divided into a ballroom dance program group (EG; n=39) and a control group (CG; n=36). The protocol of the Latin American Group for Maturity (GDLAM) was used to evaluate functional autonomy. Physical balance was analyzed using a stabilometer and posture meter platforms. The level of significance in statistical tests was set at p<0.05. Regarding the physical balance evaluation, only the members of the EG achieved a significant reduction in weight (Δ=-0.98 kg) following the experiment, both in the intragroup (p=0.002) and in the intergroup analysis (p=0.012). In the evaluation of functional autonomy, only the EG showed a significant reduction in the execution time of all the tests and in the GDLAM index: GI (Δ=-6.99), both in the intragroup (p<0.001) and in the intergroup analysis (p=0.011). Thus, it can be inferred that sedentary elderly individuals who are residents of long-term institutions can improve their functional autonomy and balance with a ballroom dance program.

Níveis de qualidade de vida em idosas ativas praticantes de dança, musculação e meditação / The levels of quality of life among active elderly women practitioners of dance, strengthining and meditation

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar os níveis de qualidade de vida entre idosas sedentárias e ativas, praticantes de dança, musculação e meditação, avaliando ainda os efeitos destes sobre aqueles. Para tal, neste estudo ex post facto, a amostra foi dividida em quatro grupos: grupo de dança (GD, n=20, idade=67±4 anos), grupo de musculação (GF, n=15, idade=67±5 anos), grupo de meditação (GM, n=15, idade=68±4 anos) e grupo controle (GC, n=20, idade=68±6 anos). O protocolo utilizado na avaliação da qualidade de vida foi o questionário World Health Organization Quality of Life Group-old - WHOQOL-OLD. Nas comparações múltiplas (Post Hoc de Sheffe ou intervalo de confiança) foram encontrados resultados satisfatórios nas variáveis dom1 (Habilidades sensoriais; GDxGC, p=0,006), dom2 (Autonomia; GDxGF, p=0,026; GDxGC, p<0,001; GFxGC, p=0,001; GMxGC, p<0,001), dom3 (Atividades passadas presentes e futuras; GDxGC, p=0,004; GFxGC, p=0,033; GMxGC, p<0,001), dom4 (Participação social; GDxGC, IC=+0,421,+41,479; GMxGC, IC=+4,456,+48,804) e QVG (GDxGC, p<0,001; GFxGC, p=0,033; GMxGC, p<0,001). Após a exposição dos dados, inferiu-se que os dois programas de atividade física (dança e musculação) e a prática da meditação apresentaram, na amostra analisada, resultados satisfatórios, contribuindo para um melhor nível de qualidade de vida quando comparados com aqueles apresentados pelo GC.

Abstract This study aimed to compare the levels of quality of life between active and sedentary elderly, practitioners of dance, meditation and strengthening. So in this study ex post facto, the sample was divided into four groups: dance group (DG, n = 20, age = 67 ± 4 years), strength group (SG, n = 15, age = 67 ± 5 years), meditation group (MG, n = 15, age = 68 ± 4 years) and the control group (CG, n = 20, age = 68 ± 6 years). The protocol used to assess the quality of life was the questionnaire World Health Organization Quality of Life Group-old - WHOQOL-OLD. In multiple comparisons (Post Hoc Sheffe, or confidence interval) we found satisfactory results in the variables dom1 (Sensory abilities; DGxGC, p = 0006), dom2 (Autonomy; DGxSG, p = 0026; DGxGC, p <0001; SGxGC, p = 0001; MGxGC, p <0001), dom3 (past present and future activities; DGxGC, p = 0004; SGxGC, p = 0033; MGxGC, p <0001), dom4 (Social Participation; DGxGC , CI = +0421, +41479; MGxGC, CI = +4456, 48804), and QVG (DGxGC, p <0001; SGxGC, p = 0033; MGxGC, p <0001). After data exposure, we inferred that the two programs of physical activity (dance and strenghtining) and the practice of meditation had satisfactory results in the trial, contributing to a better quality of life when compared with those presented by the GC.