To dance or not to dance? A comparison of balance, physical fitness and quality of life in older Irish set dancers and age-matched controls

- Physical activity may improve function and reduce mortality in older adults.
- Health benefits associated with regular Irish set dancing activity were examined.
- Results show regular set dancers had better balance, endurance and quality of life.
- Results will inform future research examining the role of Irish set dancing.
- Those with chronic conditions or socially isolated may benefit from set dancing.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to determine if older adults regularly participating in Irish set dancing have superior balance, physical fitness and quality of life compared to age-matched controls.Study designThis study used a community-based, observational cross-sectional design.MethodsRegular set dancers (n = 39) and age-matched controls (n = 33) were recruited. Participants were assessed using the physical activity scale for the elderly (physical activity levels), mini-BESTest (balance) and senior fitness test (battery of functional fitness tests). Quality of life was also assessed using the EuroQol EQ visual analogue scale.ResultsWhen controlling for between-group differences in levels of physical activity (ANCOVA analysis), the dancers had significantly better balance, functional capacity and quality of life (all P < 0.05) compared to controls. No differences between the groups were observed in other measures of functional fitness.ConclusionThe findings of this study suggest regular participation in set dancing is associated with health benefits for older adults. These results may inform future studies prospectively examining the role of set dancing for falls prevention, emotional well-being and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults.