The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a traditional dance training program on aerobic capacity and muscle strength of adults with hearing loss. Twenty-three adults with hearing loss were separated into 2 groups. Thirteen subjects (6 men, 7 women, mean age, 25.7 +/- 3.9 years) constituted the intervention group, whereas 10 subjects (5 men, 5 women, mean age, 26.4 +/- 5.9 years) formed the control group. Pretraining and posttraining treadmill tests were performed to determine heart rate (HR peak), peak minute ventilation (VE peak), peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak, absolute and relative), and time to exhaustion (min). Peak torque of hamstring and quadriceps muscles at angular velocities of 60 degrees /s, 180 degrees /s, and 300 degrees /s was also measured. The intervention group followed a 12-week traditional dance training program, whereas the control group received no training during this period. Repeated measures of multiple analyses of variance were used to test mean differences between the values of both groups. A paired t-test was used to compare the values within each group prior and after program participation. A significance level of 0.05 was used for all tests. Following the 12-week training program, significant improvements in peak physiological parameters were seen for the intervention group for peak minute ventilation, peak oxygen consumption (both absolute and relative), time to exhaustion, and peak torque values between the 2 measurements (initial and final). No significant improvements in peak physiological parameters and peak torque were noticed in the control group. In conclusion, adults with hearing loss can improve their physical fitness levels with the application of a systematic and well-designed traditional dance training program.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the impact of jazz dance class instruction on balance, cognition, and mood (specifically depression) in 13 healthy, community-dwelling, English-speaking older women with a mean age of 68.

DATA SOURCES: Data were collected using self-report questionnaires (Folstein Mini Mental Status Examination [MMSE] and Geriatric Depression Scale [GDS]), and the sensory organization test (SOT) for balance measurements (using the NeuroCom Smart Balance Master) was performed at three time periods in the study: time 1: between week 1 and week 2 of jazz class (baseline), time 2: between week 8 and week 9 of jazz class (midpoint), and time 3: after week 15 of jazz class (final measurement).

CONCLUSIONS: Differences in mean MMSE and GDS scores over time were not significant; however, SOT scores showed an increasing trend (p<.001). Data analysis using analysis of variance with repeated measures showed that balance measures improved throughout the duration of the study (F(2,10)= 19.68, p<.001). Post hoc analyses using paired t tests with a Bonferroni correction indicated that significant increases in balance occurred from time 1 to time 2 and from time 2 to time 3. These preliminary pilot study findings suggest that jazz dance does not impact cognition or mood but may improve balance in older women. This finding may have significant implications for fall prevention in the postmenopausal population. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Because falls are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults of both genders, research is needed to evaluate both the impact of jazz dance on balance in older men and jazz dance as a fall prevention strategy in aging adults. Additionally, longitudinal research with a larger sample size is needed to test the effectiveness of jazz dance as a strategy for improving balance, cognition, and mood.

The aim of the work was to show to what extent esthetic education, mainly dance, influences the level of socialization of deaf persons, and how important the integration of the examined with the outside world is. The effectiveness of the Dance Theatre "Pinokio" of the J. Korczak Special Training and Educational Center in Przemyśl was verified by diagnostic soundings. Source material was also used in the study (chronicles, press articles, interviews with instructors of the ensemble). Young deaf people participated in dance practices with pleasure. The motivation of the young deaf people to enter the dance group was of mature character. They take part in dance activities because of their love to dance (70%), instructor's engagement (20%), and the health aspect (10%). The therapy effectiveness depended on how long they participated in the dance group. Deaf people who dance for a longer time (3 years 70%, 1 year 20%, 2years 10%) had a more mature outlook on life, better school grades (80%), and started conversation with other people more easily (instructor's opinion). The self-consciousness of participants after practice manifested itself by relaxation (50%), joy (30%), and resolution in taking decisions (15%).Only 5% of the examined felt tired and fed-up. Polish choreo-therapeutists trust mainly their own intuition and also use information found in articles and publications, which, however, are not easily accessed. The scarcity of qualified therapeutic dancing instructors limits application of choreo-therapy on a wider scale.

PROBLEM: Therapeutic holding is a commonly used tool for the containment of aggressive behavior in children. Although often effective, the intervention has inherent physical and emotional safety risks. Can a body-based therapy be used to limit these risks?

METHODS: Research was conducted incorporating dance/movement therapy techniques (D/MT) before and after therapeutic holding to investigate this question. Volunteer residential treatment center staff participated in a 4-hour D/MT-based training workshop integrating the techniques with the intervention. Children participated via self-report.

FINDINGS: D/MT training increased adult awareness, sensitivity, perspective shifting ability, and confidence in the intervention while decreasing the necessity for physicality.

CONCLUSION: Integrating D/MT therapy training with therapeutic holding decreased the threat of trauma to adult participants. Further research into the integration of D/MT techniques with safe holding procedures may prove helpful in the challenge of making restraints safer for both children and adults.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that aerobic exercise improves functional capacity in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II and III chronic heart failure. However, it is unknown whether dancing is safe and able to improve functional capacity in patients with chronic heart failure.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively studied 130 patients with stable chronic heart failure (107 men; mean age, 59+/-11 years) in New York Heart Association class II and III and left ventricle ejection fraction<40%. Patients were randomized to supervised aerobic exercise training at 70% of peak o(2) 3 times a week for 8 weeks (group E, n=44) or to a dance protocol of alternate slow (5 minutes) and fast (3 minutes) waltz lasting 21 minutes (group D, n=44). A group that did not undergo exercise training served as control (group C, n=42). On study entry and at 8 weeks, all patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a cycle ergometer until volitional fatigue, 2D-echo with Doppler, and endothelium-dependent dilation of the brachial artery. Heart rate was 111+/-15 bpm during exercise training and 113+/-19 bpm during dancing (P=0.59). Peak o(2), anaerobic threshold, e/co(2) slope, and o(2)/W slope were all similarly improved in both E and D groups (+16% and 18%, 20% and 21%, 14% and 15%, 18% and 19%, respectively; P not significant for all comparisons; P<0.001 versus controls). Endothelium-dependent relaxation was also similarly improved (group E, from 2.6+/-1.3% to 5.2+/-1.5%, P<0.001 versus control; group D, from 2.2+/-1.4% to 5.0+/-1.5%, P<0.001 versus control for both E and D). The change in peak o(2) in E and D groups was correlated with changes in peak velocity of early filling wave/peak velocity of late filling ratio (r=-0.58, P<0.001) and endothelium-dependent dilation (r=0.64, P<0.001). Untoward events were rare in both E and D groups.

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stable chronic heart failure, waltz dancing is safe and able to improve functional capacity and endothelium-dependent dilation similar to traditional aerobic exercise training. Waltz dancing may be considered in clinical practice in combination with aerobic exercise training or as an alternative to it.