Moving together: Effect of a 12-week online dance training intervention on static and dynamic postural stability and gait speed in older adults. A pre-post intervention study

BackgroundPhysical inactivity negatively affects gait performance and postural stability in older adults, which results in a higher risk of fall accidents. Previous research has shown that in-person dance training improves various aspects of balance and lower extremity function, however, the potential benefits of dance training delivered online on variables used for fall risk stratification in older adults have yet to be studied. We aimed to explore the benefits of a 12-week online dance training intervention on static and dynamic postural stability and gait speed in older adults. MethodsForty-five older adults were included. The 12-week dance training intervention consisted of two weekly 60-min classes in improvisation and salsa delivered online through Zoom video calls. Static and dynamic postural stability was assessed using the center of pressure (CoP) area and velocity (force platform), and the Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest), respectively. 10-m gait speed was measured using photo gates. Before and after comparisons were performed using paired sample t-tests. ResultsThirty-two older adults completed the study. There were no significant changes for static postural stability assessed by CoP area or velocity (P [&ge;] 0.218). The Mini-BESTest total score was significantly improved at post-intervention (23.88 {+/-} 3.01) compared to baseline (22.56 {+/-} 1.41, P = 0.007). 10-m gait speed was significantly faster at post-intervention (1.68 {+/-} 0.25 m/s) compared to baseline (1.57 {+/-} 0.22 m/s, P < 0.001). DiscussionThese results indicate that online dance training has limited effect on static postural stability but may be beneficial for gait speed and in particular dynamic postural control among older adults. While the absolute increase in gait speed observed in the present study suggests limited clinical relevance, the improvement in Mini-BESTest score was above the minimal clinically important difference, which suggests a clinically relevant enhancement of dynamic postural control.