Dance as an Intervention to Reduce Fall Risk in Older Adults: A Systematic Review With a Meta-Analysis

Author: Eduarda Blanco-Rambo1, Marcelo Bandeira-Guimarães1, Alexandra F Vieira1, Caroline Pietta-Dias1, Mikel Izquierdo2,3, Eduardo L Cadore1
Affiliation:
1 Exercise Research Laboratory (LAPEX), School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS,Brazil.
2 Navarrabiomed, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra (CHN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), IDISNA, Pamplona,Spain.
3 CIBER of Frailty and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid,Spain.
Conference/Journal: J Aging Phys Act
Date published: 2022 May 2
Other: Volume ID: 30 , Issue ID: 6 , Pages: 1118-1132 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1123/japa.2021-0404. , Word Count: 169


The purpose of this study was to summarize the evidence from randomized clinical trials on the effects of dance on fall risk in older adults through a systematic review with meta-analysis. Fall risk was assessed through timed up and go, Berg Balance Scale, or one-leg stand tests. Data are presented as mean differences for timed up and go test and standardized mean differences for Berg Balance Scale and one-leg stand tests between treatments with 95% confidence intervals, and calculations were performed using random effects models. Significance was accepted when p < .05. A significant difference was found between dance interventions and the control groups in the general analysis of fall risk assessed by timed up and go (mean differences: -1.446 s; 95% confidence interval [-1.586, -1.306]; p < .001) and Berg Balance Scale and one-leg stand tests (standardized mean differences: 0.737; 95% confidence interval [0.508, 0.966]; p < .001) in favor of the intervention group. Different dance interventions decreased the fall risk in older practitioners.

Keywords: functional capacity; intrinsic capacity; mobility; risk of falls.

PMID: 35500909 DOI: 10.1123/japa.2021-0404

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