Aurum Medical Publishing

Contact Info

Address:

+1-647-424-4697

[email protected]

server-bg

International Journal of Complementary and Internal Medicine

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Dance-based Exercise Participation and Frailty

 

Ray Marks 

Osteoarthritis Research Centre

Corresponding Author: Ray Marks, Unit 2, Box 5B, Willowbrook-Charnwood Postal Depot, Markham, Ont L3T, 5H3, Canada. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Received: March 23, 2025                                                       Published: March 31, 2025

Citation: Marks R. Dance-based Exercise Participation and Frailty. Int J Complement Intern Med. 2025;6(2):305–314. DOI: 10. 58349/IJCIM. 2. 6. 2024. 00146

Copyright: ©2025 Marks R. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.

Abstract 

Background: Aging is often deemed a declining state. But can dance participation in any form impact emergent or prevailing frailty among the older population? 

Approach: A scoping review was conducted using the key words: dance, dance therapy, frailty, healthy aging, and older adults. Databases used were PubMed, PubMed Central and Google Scholar. 

Results: Dance is a health fostering mode of activity that has been shown to impact cognitive and physical frailty, regardless of mode and population studied. 

Conclusion: Dance participation is a health affirming activity that should be recommended for frailty prevention and mitigation albeit earlier rather than later, and for promoting healthy happy aging. 

Keywords: aging, dance, dance therapy, frailty, intervention, older adults, prevention

References 

1. Ambegaonkar JP, Matto H, Ihara ES, et al. Dance, music, and social conversation program participation positively affects physical and mental health in community-dwelling older adults: a randomized controlled trial. J Dance Med Sci. 2022;26(4):255- 264. 

2. Dai L, Tang Y, Guo Y, et al. The association between exercise, activities, and frailty in older Chinese adults: a crosssectional study based on the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) data. BMC Geriatr. 2025;25(1):131. 

3. Izquierdo M, de Souto Barreto P, Arai H, et al. Global consensus on optimal exercise recommendations for enhancing healthy longevity in older adults (ICFSR). J Nutr Health Aging. 2025;29(1):100401. 

4. Cadore EL, Sáez de Asteasu ML, Izquierdo M. Multicomponent exercise and the hallmarks of frailty: Considerations on cognitive impairment and acute hospitalization. Exp Gerontol. 2019;122:10-14. 

5. Nascimento CM, Ingles M, Salvador-Pascual A, et al. Sarcopenia, frailty and their prevention by exercise. Free Radic Biol Med. 2019;132:42-49. 

6. Dewari AS, Chandel S. Strides towards healthy longevity: harnessing the power of sports and elements of Kathak, an Indian classical dance form through social participation to combat cognitive frailty among older adults. Ageing Res Rev. 2025;105:102671. 

7. Simpkins C, Yang F. Recreational older ballet dancers fall less with more effective reactive balance control than nondancers after a slip during gait. Exp Brain Res. 2025;243(3):75. 

8. Sánchez-Alcalá M, Aibar-Almazán A, Carcelén-Fraile MDC, et al. Effects of dance-based aerobic training on frailty and cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial. Diagnostics (Basel). 2025;15(3):351. 

9. Yu Y, Min H, Pan W, et al. Network analysis of the relationships between depressive symptoms and social participation activities among Chinese older adults and its implications for nursing. Int J Nurs Sci. 2024;11(4):465-472. 

10. Rodziewicz-Flis EA, Kawa M, Skrobot WR, et al. The positive impact of 12 weeks of dance and balance training on the circulating amyloid precursor protein and serotonin concentration as well as physical and cognitive abilities in elderly women. Exp Gerontol. 2022;162:111746. 

11. Hernandez-Martinez J, Guzmán-Muñoz E, CidCalfucura I, et al. Elastic band training versus multicomponent training and group-based dance on morphological variables and physical performance in older women: a randomized controlled trial. Life (Basel). 2024;14(11):1362. 

12. Douka S, Zilidou VI, Lilou O, et al. Traditional dance improves the physical fitness and well-being of the elderly. Front Aging Neurosci. 2019;11:75. 

13. Pessoa RF, Neves CM, Ferreira MEC. Dance therapy in aging: A systematic review. J Phys Ed Sport, 2019:19(2);1180- 1187. 

14. Saumaa H. Dance and movement in the advanced age. Alt Compl Ther. 2020;26(6):239-242. 

15. Xu T, Soo V, Chang HY, et al. Dance programme for older adults with pre-frailty: a mixed-methods feasibility study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr Plus. 2024;1(4). 

16. Hoogendijk EO, Afilalo J, Ensrud KE, et al. Frailty: implications for clinical practice and public health. The Lancet. 2019;394(10206):1365-1375. 

17. Salaffi F, Farah S, Di Carlo M. Frailty syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis and symptomatic osteoarthritis: an emerging concept in rheumatology. Acta Biomed. 2020;91(2):274-296. 

18. Tornero-Quiñones I, Sáez-Padilla J, Espina Díaz A, et al. Functional ability, frailty and risk of falls in the elderly: relations with autonomy in daily living. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(3):1006. 

19. Zhang XM, Wu XJ, Cao J, et al. Association between cognitive frailty and adverse outcomes among older adults: a metaanalysis. J Nutr Health Aging. 2022;26(9):817-825. 

20. Chan V, Wilson JRF, Ravinsky R, et al. Frailty adversely affects outcomes of patients undergoing spine surgery: a systematic review. Spine J. 2021;21(6):988-1000. 

21. Hewitt J, Long S, Carter B, et al. The prevalence of frailty and its association with clinical outcomes in general surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Age Ageing. 2018;47(6):793- 800. 

22. Gielen E, Dupont J, Dejaeger M, Laurent MR. Sarcopenia, osteoporosis and frailty. Metabolism. 2023;145:155638. 

23. Panayi AC, Orkaby AR, Sakthivel D, et al. Impact of frailty on outcomes in surgical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Surg. 2019;218(2):393-400. 

24. Cohen CI, Benyaminov R, Rahman M, et al. Frailty: a multidimensional biopsychosocial syndrome. Med Clin North Am. 2023;107(1):183-197. 

25. Walston J, Buta B, Xue QL. Frailty Screening and Interventions: Considerations for Clinical Practice. Clin Geriatr Med. 2018;34(1):25-38. 

26. Dent E, Daly RM, Hoogendijk EO, Scott D. Exercise to prevent and manage frailty and fragility fractures. Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2023;21(2):205-215. 

27. Hewston P, Kennedy C, Ioannidis G, et al. Development of GERAS DANcing for Cognition and Exercise (DANCE): a feasibility study. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2022;8(1):9. Published 2022 Jan 19. 

28. Kennedy CC, Hewston P, Ioannidis G, et al. Effect of the GERAS DANcing for cognition and exercise program on physical function in older adults. J Aging Phys Act. 2022;31(2):182-190. 

29. Cleary M, Le Lagadec D, West S, Kornhaber R. … 5, 6, 7, 8: The many and interrelated benefits of line dancing - a scoping review. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2025:1-11. 

30. Jiménez J, Bräuninger I, Meekums B. Dance movement therapy with older people with a psychiatric condition: a systematic review. The Arts in Psychother. 2019;63:118-127. 

31. Ho RTH, Fong TCT, Chan WC, et al. Psychophysiological effects of dance movement therapy and physical exercise on older adults with mild dementia: a randomized controlled trial. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2020;75(3):560- 570. 

32. Veronese N, Maggi S, Schofield P, et al. Dance movement therapy and falls prevention. Maturitas, 2025;102:1-5. 

33. Blanco-Rambo E, Bandeira-Guimarães M, Vieira AF, et al. Dance as an intervention to reduce fall risk in older adults: a systematic review with a meta-analysis. J Aging Phys Act. 2022;30(6):1118-1132. 

34. Mattle M, Chocano-Bedoya PO, Fischbacher M, et al. Association of dance-based mind-motor activities with falls and physical function among healthy older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(1):e2037105. 

35. Bajaj S, Verma M, Sharma HB, et al. Southeast Asian, African, and Middle East expert consensus on structured physical activity-dance, exercise, and sports. Adv Ther. 2025;42(4):1692- 1715. 

36. Parial LL, Lam SC, Sumile EF, et al. Mix-and-Match or Mismatch? exploring the perspectives of older adults about zumba dance and its potential utilization for dual-task training. J Aging Phys Act. 2022;30(5):893-905. 

37. O'Malley N, O'Reilly S, Byrne S, et al. 'Excellent for mind, body and spirit': Participant, facilitator, and community stakeholder experiences of Music and Movement for Health. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2024;57:101917. 

38. Capello PP. Dance/movement therapy and the older adult client: healing pathways to resilience and community: the 2017 ADTA international panel. Am J Dance Ther. 2018;40(1):164-178. 

39. Toohey B, Hutchinson M, Moloney G. More than just movement: exploring embodied group synchrony during seated dance for older adults living in residential aged care communities. J Appl Gerontol. 2024;43:(6),657-669. 

40. Marquez DX, Tellez M, Ocampo-Mota J, et al. C.E.R.E.B.R.O.: A home-based physical activity study for older Latino adults. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2025;44:101436. 

41. Joung H J, Lee Y. Effect of creative dance on fitness, functional balance, and mobility control in the elderly. Gerontol. 2019;65(5),537-546. 

42. Haynes A, Tiedemann A, Hewton G, et al. "It doesn't feel like exercise": a realist process evaluation of factors that support long-term attendance at dance classes designed for healthy ageing. Front Public Health. 2023;11:1284272. 

43. Sodums DJ, Kim S, Gallucci CE, et al. Impact of Sharing Dance Older Adults on physical and psychosocial outcomes. Can J Aging. 2024;43(2):297-310. 

44. Gomaa YS, Slade SC, Tamplin J, et al. Therapeutic Dancing for Frail Older People in Residential Aged Care: A Thematic Analysis of Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation. Int J Aging Hum Dev. 2020;90(4):403-422. 

45. Liu X, Shen PL, Tsai YS. Dance intervention effects on physical function in healthy older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2021;33(2):253-263. 

46. Gronek P, Boraczyński M, Haas AN, et al. Body adaptation to dance: a gerontological perspective. Aging Dis. 2021;12(3):902-913. 

47. Klaperski-van der Wal S, Skinner J, Opacka-Juffry J, et al. Dance and stress regulation: A multidisciplinary narrative review. Psychol Sport Exerc. 2025;78:102823. 

48. Muiños M, Ballesteros S. Does dance counteract agerelated cognitive and brain declines in middle-aged and older adults? A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021;121:259-276. 

49. Dunphy K, Baker FA, Dumaresq E, et al. Creative arts interventions to address depression in older adults: a systematic review of outcomes, processes, and mechanisms. Front Psychol. 2019;9:2655. 

50. Jaldin MA, Balbim GM, Pinto J, et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of dance on cognition and depression in healthy older adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2025;57(3):490-500. 

51. Lazo Green K, Yang Y, Abaraogu U, et al. Effectiveness of dance interventions for falls prevention in older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. Age Ageing. 2024;53(5):afae104. 

52. Zhang X, van der Schans CP, Liu Y, et al. Efficacy of dance intervention for improving frailty among Chinese older adults living in the community: a randomized controlled trial. J Aging Phys Act. 2023;31(5):806-814. 

53. Wołoszyn N, Brożonowicz J, Grzegorczyk J, et al. The impact of physical exercises with elements of dance movement therapy on anthropometric parameters and physical fitness among functionally limited older nursing home residents. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(5):3827. 

54. Meng X, Li G, Zhang G, et al. Effects of dance intervention on frailty among older adults. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2020;88:104001. 

55. Li R, Yan Q, Qu Y, et al. Square dance, loneliness, quality of life, and attitude toward aging in middle-aged and older women in China. Front Public Health. 2025;13:1508556. 

56. de Souza ÂMN, Fernandes DPS, Castro IS, et al. Sleep quality and duration and frailty in older adults: a systematic review. Front Public Health. 2025;13:1539849. 

57. Qu Y, Liu Z, Wang Y, et al. Relationships among square dance, group cohesion, perceived social support, and psychological capital in 2721 middle-aged and older adults in China. Healthcare (Basel). 2023;11(14):2025. 

58. Zhang H, Gao Y, Zhang Y, et al. Effects of dance interventions on cognitive function, balance, mobility, and life quality in older adults: A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2025;131:105775. 

59. Salihu D, Kwan RY, Wong EM. The effect of dancing interventions on depression symptoms, anxiety, and stress in adults without musculoskeletal disorders: an integrative review and meta-analysis. Compl Ther Clin Practice. 2021;45:101467. 

60. Fong Yan A, Nicholson LL, Ward RE, et al. The effectiveness of dance interventions on psychological and cognitive health outcomes compared with other forms of physical activity: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Sports Med. 2024:1-27. 

61. Hoogendijk EO, Afilalo J, Ensrud KE, et al. Frailty: implications for clinical practice and public health. Lancet. 2019;394(10206):1365-1375. 

62. Proietti M, Cesari M. Frailty: What Is It?. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2020;1216:1-7.