The effect of ballroom dance on balance and functional autonomy among the isolated elderly

The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of a ballroom dancing program on the functional autonomy and physical balance of institutionalized elderly individuals. The study enrolled 75 sedentary elderly subjects from long-term institutions who were randomly divided into a ballroom dance program group (EG; n = 39) and a control group (CG; n = 36). The protocol of the Latin American Group for Maturity (GDLAM) was used to evaluate functional autonomy. Physical balance was analyzed using a stabilometer and posture meter platforms. The level of significance in statistical tests was set at p < 0.05. Regarding the physical balance evaluation, only the members of the EG achieved a significant reduction in weight (Delta = -0.98 kg) following the experiment, both in the intragroup (p = 0.002) and in the intergroup analysis (p = 0.012). In the evaluation of functional autonomy, only the EG showed a significant reduction in the execution time of all the tests and in the GDLAM index: GI (Delta = -6.99), both in the intragroup (p < 0.001) and in the intergroup analysis (p = 0.011). Thus, it can be inferred that sedentary elderly individuals who are residents of long-term institutions can improve their functional autonomy and balance with a ballroom dance program. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.