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Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Abstract

Background : The continuous progress in public health work results in an increasingnumber of the elderly, whose physical changes are unavoidable.The elderly also risk more of both chronic and acute illnesses, which inturn lead to loss of abilities in conducting their daily life, loss of physicalequilibrium, and more risk of falling. Exercise has become an importantelement that can increase stability in balancing and decrease risks offalling. Thai dance is a type of exercise that is traditional and based onThais’ ways of living. Researchers, therefore, believe that Thai danceshould be an appropriate form of exercise for the elderly that can beperformed sustainably and continuously.Objectives : This research is to study the effect of Thai dance on balancing ability inThai elderly.Setting : Noen-Muang Center, Amphur Maung, Khon Kaen, ThailandDesign : Randomized controlled trialMethodology : This is an experimental study on 38 female volunteers with an averageage of 65.81 ± 5.09 years. They were divided into 20 participants inthe Thai dance group and 18 participants in the control group. Allparticipants were interview for their baseline information and examinedaccording to the inclusion criteria before signing in as researchparticipants. Then they underwent the Berg balance scale (BBS),the time up-and-go test (TUGT), and the functional reach test (FRT)prior to and 6 weeks after intervention. The Thai dance group practicedThai dancing for a period of 40 minutes per session, 3 times per weekfor 6 weeks.Results : The test on balance before and 6 weeks after Thai dancing exerciseshows that the experimental group had a statistically significant increasein physical balance. BBS increased from 53.10 ± 1.97 points to 54.65 ± 1.35 points (p = 0.001), TUGT decreased from 10.21 ± 1.72 sec to8.58 ± 1.37 sec (p = 0.001), and FRT increased from 23.68 ± 5.53 cmto 29.45 ± 5.77 cm (p = 0.001). The measurements of the control groupwere compared between before and 6 weeks after intervention. It wasshown that the difference of physical balance was not statisticallysignificant. BBS increased from 52.27 ± 1.77 points to 52.00 ± 1.97points (p = 0.350), TUGT increased from 10.44 ± 1.58 sec to 10.72 ± 1.57 sec (p = 0.390), and FRT from 26.07 ± 3.94 cm to 26.17 ± 3.98 cm(p = 0.860). When the two groups were compared, the physical balancevalues were significantly different: BBS: from 52.00 ± 1.97 to 54.65 ± 1.34 points (p = 0.001); TUGT: from 10.72 ± 1.57 sec to 8.59 ± 1.37(p = 0.001); and, FRT: from 26.17 ± 3.98 cm to 29.45 ± 5.77 cm(p = 0.001).Conclusion : Thai dancing exercise can increase physical balance in the elderly.

Publisher

Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University

First Page

345

Last Page

357

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