Background. The benefits of aerobic dance toward the contribution to overall wellness have been studied in a skewed manner. Numerous studies in the past have examined the cardiorespiratory benefits of aerobic dance. Fewer studies have reported the effects on agility, flexibility and coordination. Moreover even fewer studies have used aerobic dance instructors as subjects.
Methods. To examine the effects of long-term aerobic dance on agility and selected measures of flexibility, fifty-four experienced and non-experienced aerobic dance teachers were tested on these parameters.
Results. No significant differences were identified in any parameter.
Conclusions. On the basis of the present data we conclude that extended participation in aerobic dance does not contribute to better sit and reach flexibility, trunk flexibility, dynamic rotational flexibility or agility and that aerobic dance teachers should participate in general flexibility stretching activities and secondary activities to improve and/or maintain agility and general coordination.
KEY WORDS: Aerobic dance -Agility - Flexibility - Dynamic flexibility.
Aerobic dance has been and continues to be a very popular form of activity. This activity has grown due to socialization aspects but also the documented physiological benefits derived from participation in dance-exercise. 1-6
To date no studies have been found which document the long term effects of aerobic dance on one health related component of fitness (i.e. flexibility) and one sport related component of fitness (i.e. agility). The dirth of literature on flexibility relates to static vs ballistic stretching and the effects of flexibility on flexibility norms of specific populations.4 7-9
Agility research is relegated primarily to popular literature which "suggests" activities which will improve agility, balance, and strength.10-12
This study will examine the performance of veteran aerobic dance instructors on selected tests of agility and flexibility to ascertain if chronic participation in this activity contributes to the improvement and maintenance of these physiological parameters.
Materials and methods
Participants
Fifty-four experienced and non-experienced aerobic dance teachers served as participants in the study. Informed consent was obtained and the subjects were divided into three groups of 18 (16 females and 2 males). The first group consisted of current instructors who had been teaching at least 1 1/2 years, the second group consisted of novices who had 6 weeks to one year of continuous teaching while the third group served as a control who had not participated in aerobic dance or any regular exercise routine for at least the past 6 months (Table I).
Procedure
All subjects underwent sit and reach flexibility testing, trunk extension flexibility testing, a dynamic trunk rotation flexibility test and a shuttle eraser pick up run in a random order. The modified sit and reach test was used to eliminate the problem of disproportional limb lengths. The procedure of Hoeger and Hoeger,13 was followed.
Sit and reach testing required the subjects to sit with buttock on floor, shoulders and head in contact with the wall. The legs were extended, with the knees straight and the soles of the feet placed against the sit and reach box. The hands were placed one on top of the other, with neither set of fingers extending beyond the other. A yardstick was placed on top the box with the zero end toward the subject. The subject reached forward, rounding the shoulder but keeping the head and shoulders against the wall. The yardstick was positioned and held so that the end of the yardstick touched the extended fingers. This yardstick position was then held firmly in place as the subject leaned forward allowing the head and shoulders to move away from the wall. The fingers were slid along the top of the yardstick. Three slow forward movements were made, holding the third for a minimum of 2 seconds. Three attempts were made and the best reach was recorded to the nearest quarter centimeter.
Trunk and neck flexibility was assessed following the procedure described by Heyward.14 The subject was instructed to lie prone on the floor with the hands clasped together behind their back. With a partner holding upper thigh (to prevent the lower body from raising up) the subject lifted the trunk and neck as high as possible. A ruler was used to measure the verticle height from the tip of the nose to the floor to the nearest quarter centimeter. The best of three trials was taken. A measurement was then made from the tip of the nose to the seat of a chair while seated erect. The best trial was subtracted from the seated measurement to arrive at a trunk and neck extension score.
To measure dynamic trunk rotation flexibility an "x" was placed on the floor between the subjects feet. The subject stood with his back to the wall and arms length away. Another "x" was placed on the wall at shoulder height. The subject