The famous Argentine dance could improve balance and functional mobility in those diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, according to a recent Canadian study.
Researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute of McGill University and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre sought to investigate whether dancing the tango could help to curb the motor dysfunction and non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease.
Typically danced at a fairly slow pace to music in the 2/4 time signature, the sensual Argentine social dance could help to improve balance thanks to its specific combination of rhythmic backward and forward steps. Dancing lessons are also thought to benefit cognitive function by soliciting participants' memory and concentration.
For their study, the Canadian researchers recruited 40 patients diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, the most common form of the illness. The participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Members of the first group participated in partnered tango lessons for 12 weeks, while the others engaged in self-directed exercise.
After the intervention, the researchers observed the change in motor measures (tremors, rigidity, gait dysfunction) and non-motor measures (depression, fatigue, cognition) among both groups.
Their results, published in the April 2015 issue of Complementary Therapies in Medicine, suggest that tango lessons were linked with improved balance and functional mobility in Parkinson's patients, as well as modest benefits in terms of decreasing fatigue and boosting cognitive function. Moreover, the tango participants in the study found the activity more enjoyable, and many of them saw improvements in their mood and social life. However, no difference was observed between the two groups in terms of overall motor function.
Like any other form of exercise, tango dancing may also help to reduce the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to the researchers.
In Argentina, certain hospitals already use tango lessons as an alternative therapy for depression in elderly patients and for certain psychiatric disorders.
AFP RELAXNEWS
Sun Apr 19 2015
Typically danced at a fairly slow pace to music in the 2/4 time signature, the sensual Argentine social dance could help to improve balance thanks to its specific combination of rhythmic backward and forward steps.
AWANI Ringkas: Wujudkan akta lindungi pekerja OKU/autistik
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Kementerian Perpaduan kaji keperluan Pelan Tindakan Pendidikan, Penghargaan Rukun Negara
Pelan tindakan ini menggariskan modus operandi melibatkan Kementerian Perpaduan Negara, Kementerian Pendidikan, Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi, dan Kementerian Komunikasi.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Calon PH tayang sijil UPSR 7A, SPM 10A
Calon PH, Pang Sock Tao menyahut cabaran Ketua Penerangan Pas, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari supaya menunjukkan kelulusan pendidikan rendah dan menengahnya.
AWANI Ringkas: Wujudkan akta lindungi pekerja OKU/autistik
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Isu stoking: Pengarah KK Mart, isteri akan kemuka representasi kepada AGC
Pengarah KK Mart yang berdepan dua pertuduhan melukakan perasaan orang Islam dalam isu berkaitan penjualan stoking tertera kalimah Allah akan mengemukakan representasi kepada Jabatan Peguam Negara.
Inisiatif IHH Healthcare lancar pemasangan panel solar wajar jadi contoh - Fadillah Yusof
IHH Healthcare Malaysia mencatatkan pencapaian baharu dengan melancarkan inisiatif pemasangan panel solar di seluruh rangkaian hospitalnya sekali gus menjadikannya pelopor.
Che'gu Bard akan didakwa di Johor Bahru esok
Che'gu Bard berkata, ia dipercayai berhubung kenyataannya mengenai isu kasino di Forest City, Johor.
Ahmad Zahid ucap tahniah kepada Farah Ain
Ahmad Zahid mengucapkan tahniah kepada atlet boling padang Nor Farah Ain Abdullah yang muncul juara pada Kejohanan Boling Padang Dalam Dewan Dunia 2024.
Raih RM31 juta sejak ditayangkan! Sheriff kini filem no. 1 di Malaysia
Berita gembira ini turut disokong oleh abang Syafiq, Syamsul Yusof yang turut bangga dengan kejayaan naskhah yang dihasilkan adiknya.
Letupan bom Sungai Golok: PDRM tingkat kawalan keselamatan sempadan Malaysia-Thailand
PDRM mempertingkatkan kawalan keselamatan di sempadan Malaysia-Thailand susulan insiden letupan bom dan bunyi tembakan di Sungai Golok.