Adapted Tango Improves Mobility, Motor–Cognitive Function, and Gait but Not Cognition in Older Adults in Independent Living. Issue 10 (12th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hackney, Madeleine E.; Byers, Colleen; Butler, Gail; Sweeney, Morgan; Rossbach, Lauren; Bozzorg, Aaron
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Volume 63:Issue 10(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 2105
• Page End: 2113
• Publication Date: 2015-10-12
• Subjects: Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/jgs.13650
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-8614

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jgs13650-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jgs13650-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To determine the efficacy of adapted tango for improving mobility, motor–cognitive function, and gait; to determine whether former dance experience was associated with improvements; and to evaluate participant satisfaction, changes in depression, and quality of life.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13650-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>Quasi‐experimental, two‐group, repeated‐measures preintervention, postintervention, and 3‐month postintervention study.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13650-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Setting</title> <p>Diverse senior independent living communities in an urban metropolitan area.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13650-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Participants</title> <p>Individuals aged 59 to 95 (73% aged 80 and older; 31% nonwhite, 72% female) (N = 74).</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13650-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Intervention</title> <p>Participants were assigned to 20 sessions of 90‐minute tango (n = 62) or health education (n = 12) classes over 12 weeks.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13650-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Measurements</title> <p>Mobility, motor–cognitive function, gait, cognition, and psychosocial function were evaluated before, immediately after, and 3 months after the intervention. Two (groups) by two (before and after) repeated‐measures analyses of variance with post hoc comparisons were used to evaluate differences in primary analyses. Secondary analyses from immediately after to 3 months after were used to examine the data for retention of any gains.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13650-sec-0007" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Forty‐four tango and 10 education participants completed 20 sessions. Significant group by time interactions revealed that tango improved mobility (<italic>P</italic> = .006), backward and fast gait speeds (<italic>P</italic> < .001), and motor–cognitive function (<italic>P</italic> = .03). Education improved depression (<italic>P</italic> = .001). No relationship was noted between previous dance experience and improvements. Gains were maintained 3 months after the intervention.</p> </sec> <sec id="jgs13650-sec-0008" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Adapted tango may improve mobility, gait and motor–cognitive function more than health education classes in older adults. Further research is necessary to confirm these findings.</p> </sec> </abstract>