Effect of Therapeutic Recreation Dance Movement on Physical Fitness, Body Composition and Serum Lipids of Elderly People

We conducted this study to analyze the effectiveness of a treatment called 12-week therapeutic recreation dance movement (TRDM) to elderly people in terms of health care and recovery. Forty two elderly people were participated in this study and divided into two groups with healthy (twelve) and unhealthy (thirty). After TRDM treatment, the muscular power was increased in both groups without statistical significance within and between groups. The flexibility, agility and balance were slightly increased in both groups. Although the elevation of muscular endurance was not significant between groups, it was statistically meaningful within groups. The results of body composition comparison did not reveal meaningful difference within and between groups. However, the amount of fat in serum and fat distribution percentages ware decreased in both groups. Both group appeared to be increased muscle mass. The level of body water was decreased in healthy group and increased in unhealthy group. Unhealthy group appeared to be decreased level of T-C, TG and LDL-C. In contrast, the unhealthy group revealed the increased level of HDL-C. These results demonstrate the effect of TRDM to elderly people. This effectiveness can be adapted for the protection and treatment of geriatics-related adult diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia.