Impact of Latin Dance on Physical Activity, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Sedentary Behavior Among Latinos Attending an Adult Day Center

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether a Latin dance program with sedentary behavior information would have an impact on physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and sedentary behavior among older Latinos attending an adult day center (ADC). Method: Participants ( N = 21, 75.4 ± 6.3 years old, Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] score = 22.4 ± 2.8) were randomized into a dance or wait-list control group. Participants wore an accelerometer and inclinometer and completed a sedentary behavior questionnaire, and a nonexercise equation was used to calculate CRF. Results: Findings indicate small to medium effect sizes in the desired direction during midpoint of the intervention for physical activity, sedentary behavior–related outcomes, CRF, and self-reported sedentary behavior in the dance group; however; dance participants did not maintain that trajectory for the remaining 2 months of the intervention. Discussion: Future studies may consider implementing behavioral strategies during midpoint of the intervention to encourage participants attending an ADC to maintain physical activity and sedentary behavior changes.