Dancing May Help to Prevent Falls in Older Persons, Study Finds

A meta-analysis published in JAMA Open suggests dancing may help prevent falls in older people, reports Forbes . The authors pooled data from 29 controlled studies involving over 4,200 healthy people older than 65. They analyzed studies incorporating "dance-based mind-motor activities" that considered coordinated upright movements, focused on music or rhythm, with unique choreography and social interactions with other like-minded persons. They assessed diverse styles of dance including folk dancing, ballroom dancing, line dancing, tai chi, and eurythmics. Compared to persons of the same age who walked, practiced aerobics, seated exercise, and other types of exercise, those engaging in dance-based forms of exercise had a 37 percent lower risk of falling in eight of the 29 trials, and a 31 percent reduction in falling in seven additional trials. Multiple trials illustrated a substantial improvement compared to controls in lower body strength and overall balance, but not upper body strength. Most critically, dancing three or more sessions a week consistently over three to six months was associated with greater health and wellness benefits compared with other forms of exercise for shorter periods of time.