Dance for Your Health

By Doug Donaldson

Dancing provides the same aerobic benefits of other cardio exercises plus it adds an uplifting emotional benefit, according to research presented at the AHA’s Scientific Sessions in 2006.

“Our research suggests that dancing is a new choice of exercise training for patients with heart failure,” said Romualdo Belardinelli, M.D., lead author of the study. “This is good news, because if we want patients to take part in lifelong aerobic exercise at least three times a week, it should be something that’s fun and makes them want to continue. Dancing is done in all cultures and countries.”

The study compared three groups of patients during an eight-week period: one group had no exercise, the second group exercised on the treadmill or exercise bike three times a week, and the third group danced, alternating between a slow waltz and a fast waltz for 21 minutes three times a week.

Not only did the dancers achieve similar levels of physical benefits compared to the other exercisers, but the dancers also reported that their quality of life was “surprisingly more significantly improved,” Belardinelli said.

Belardinelli is director of cardiac rehabilitation and prevention at Lancisi Heart Institute in Ancona, Italy.