The Effects of Country-Line Dancing on Cardiorespiratory Endurance, Muscular Strength/Endurance, Flexibility, Agility, and Balance in the Elderly

Exercise is an effective tool for combating the deteriorating effects of aging. Exercise can improve functional fitness and thus quality of life in the elderly. To determine whether country-line dancing (CLD) improves functional fitness in older adults, seventeen subjects ages 59 and above performed six weeks of CLD. A variety of dances were performed for one-hour classes two times per week. Cardiorespiratory endurance, strength, flexibility, agility, and balance were assessed. A cross-over design was utilized. The between groups comparison showed large improvements in strength and agility; a moderate effect in cardiorespiratory endurance; and low or minimal effects in flexibility and balance. The within groups comparison showed large improvements in cardiorespiratory endurance, agility, and balance; and minimal effects in flexibility and strength. Results appear to indicate a trend of CLD being an alternative mode to achieving functional fitness in the elderly cohort