Keep on Dancing! Study Suggests this Activity Helps Older Adults Prevent Falls

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A study by Queensland Ballet and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) released in April found that ballet helped older Australians feel happier, more energetic and healthier overall.

There are different ways to avoid falls among seniors. New research though, says, among the most effective approaches through dance.

Study authors found a 31-percent decline in falls, and a 37-percent drop in fall risk for people whose age is 65 years or older, when reviewing clinical tests on "dance-based mind-motor activities" from different parts of the world.

According to the study author, Michele Mattle, a doctorate candidate at Switzerland-based University of Zurich, they were favorably surprised by their consistency results.

Matte added, even though past studies in the "field of falls prevention and exercise" proposed that interventions, including multitasking activities, are promising strategies for preventing falls, it was not clear if dance-based mind-motor activities resulted in similar results.

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What are Dance-Based Mind-Motor Activities?

This new study indicates, "Dance-based mind-motor activities are those" with upright movements emphasizing balance and use an inner rhythm like breathing or inner music.

These activities include choreography or instructions like social interaction, for one. Specifically, Tai chi meets those standards, on top of different dance-based activities like folk and ballroom dancing.

Matte also said, even though dance was frequently recommended as a "good fall-prevention activity for older adults," there was no evidence in the past for that.

Moreover, the review only presented a link between "dance and mobility, balance and lower body strength," instead of a cause-and-effect relationship.

Tai chi is a kind of movement that has been examined more frequently, although it's not as famous in Europe, explained Mattle.

The trials, all 29 of them reviewed in the study, were from various countries on several different continents. They comprised trials from the United States and Canada, and countries within Asia, Europe, and South America.

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Balance Training

Two of the most important risk factors for falls in elderly individuals include impaired balance and gait. According to Mattle, the ability to multitask involving two activities simultaneously, like talking while walking for one, can reduce with age.

Additionally, Mattle added, many falls occur while an older adult is walking then, something unexpected happens, and that person needs to respond fast.

That's what balance training is designed for-to help an individual react faster upon loss of control. 

The movements in these said activities are deliberate, concentrated, and engage the continuous attention control for the body weight's switching, said Mattle, describing it as a "good training" for maintaining a dynamic balance in unforeseen incidents and for improving reaction time.

Falls are the main reasons for accidental death and injury in adults aged 65 years. According to geriatrician and Cedars Sinai's assistant professor of medicine, Dr. Allison Mays, who is involved in separate research, investigates the effect of exercise classes on older adults.

Reasons for falls can vary, ranging from reaction time, which is slowed by aging, changes in vision that impacts balance, changes in blood pressure and medication, and explained Mays.

The medicine professor added, falls are an unusual occurrence, even in the elderly. "It always should deserve a conversation with the physician," she added.

On top of death and injury, this condition can increase the fear of falls in the future, leading to an older adult limiting movement. The expert also said that the number one change a senior can make to avoid falls is exercise.

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