Street dance is an enjoyable form of exercise that incorporates music, and its fundamental technique, isolation—characterized by the movement of specific body parts—holds potential as a therapeutic exercise due to its connection with motor learning, a principle used in physical therapy. However, current research on street dance is scarce. In our previous study, we developed street dance exercise for young to middle-aged adults and reported on their positive physical and mental effects. In this study, we examine the immediate effects of street dance exercise with modifications to suit the capabilities of older adults.
This study involved twenty-six older adults with an average age of 75.5 ± 4.6 years, residing in a rural area of Japan. The street dance routine of mobility of scapula, developed in a previous study, was adapted for the elderly participants. University students led a 45-minute dance exercise session. Blood pressure, pulse rate, shoulder flexion angle, the 2-step test, and the short version of the Profile of Mood States (POMS®) 2nd edition were measured before and after the street dance session. After the exercise, the Borg scale, subjective evaluations such as "enjoyment," and participants' impressions were collected. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS® 29.0 (IBM), and the paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied after assessing normality. Additionally, a textual analysis of the impressions was conducted using KH Corder 3.0.
The Borg scale rating for street dance was 11.3 ± 2.3. There were no significant changes in blood pressure or heart rate. The range of motion in shoulder flexion improved from 180.5 ± 26.0 to 196.0 ± 25.0 degrees, and performance in the 2-step test increased from 207.6 ± 27.7 to 221.7 ± 21.2 cm. POMS subscales showed significant improvements, with the exception of Depression-Dejection and Fatigue-Inertia. The T-score, indicating overall mood, improved from 43.7 ± 7.9 to 39.9 ± 7.4. The subjective rating of "enjoyment" on a 4-point scale was 3.65 ± 0.6. A textual analysis of participants' impressions revealed that the keyword "enjoyment" appeared most frequently, with 19 instances. There were no falls or injuries.
When university students led a street dance session with adjusted difficulty for older adults, the exercise intensity was classified as "fairly light" from the Borg scale. The most frequently extracted keyword from the textual analysis was "enjoyment," confirming the immediate positive effects of the street dance exercise on the physical and mental well-being of the older participants.
Street dance has the potential to contribute to health promotion activities for older adults living in the community, not only by providing immediate improvements in range of motion, locomotor function, and mental state, but also by offering an enjoyable experience.
Health promotion
Older adults
