Impact of traditional Greek dancing on jumping ability, muscular strength and lower limb endurance in cardiac rehabilitation programmes. (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vordos, Zacharias; Kouidi, Evangelia; Mavrovouniotis, Fotios; Metaxas, Thomas; Dimitros, Eleftherios; Kaltsatou, Antonia; Deligiannis, Asterios
• Is Part Of: European journal of cardiovascular nursing. Volume 16:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 150
• Page End: 156
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: Chronic heart failure -- cardiac rehabilitation -- Greek dancing -- jumping ability -- muscular strength -- muscular endurance -- lower limbs; Cardiovascular system -- Diseases -- Nursing -- Periodicals; Cardiovascular Diseases -- nursing -- Periodicals; Cardiology -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Vascular Diseases -- Periodicals; 610.7369105
• DOI: 10.1177/1474515116636980
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1474-5151

Abstract

Aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a training programme based on traditional Greek dance on the jumping ability, muscle strength and lower limb endurance in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Patients and methods: Forty Greek patients with CHF graded as NYHA ⩽ II and aged 73.2±4.7 years were randomly divided into two groups. Group A ( n =20) participated in a three-month physical rehabilitation programme based on Greek traditional dances, whereas group B ( n =20) remained untrained and served as the control group. All patients were studied before and after the 12-week exercise training programme. At baseline and follow-up the exercise capacity of the patients was evaluated by the six-minute walking test, their lower extremity muscle strength was evaluated by an isokinetic dynamometer and their jumping ability by the Myotest-Pro test, which includes three types of jumps (plyometric, countermovement and squat jumps). Results: No significant difference was observed between the two groups at the baseline evaluation. At follow-up, group A showed significant improvements in walking distance calculated from the six-minute walking test (10.0% improvement; p <0.05), in lower limb strength (10.32% improvement; p <0.05), and in countermovement jump speed (6.9%; p <0.05) and squat jump speed (5.8%; p <0.05). Group A also increased their jump plyometry height by 13.86% ( p <0.05), their counter jump height by 10.68% ( p <0.05) and their squat jump height by 10.45% ( p <0.05). Group A had a 6.85% ( p <0.05) increased force of counter jump compared with group B. Conclusion: The design and implementation of cardiac rehabilitation programmes using Greek traditional dances in patients with CHF are both safe and effective in improving lower limb function.