Cardiorespiratory modifications during the dance

pp 358-363

Abstract

Several dances have proved to be a valid alternative against sedentary life style. No previ­ous research was found after a literature review on the cardiorespiratory modifications produced when dancing tango. Purpose: The aims of this research were to study the oxygen uptake (VO₂), heart rate (HR) and minute ven­tilation (VE) during the tango and milonga dancing and to compare these results with those obtained on the same people during maxi­mal exercise testing. Methods: VO₂, VE, HR of twenty healthy individuals were measured during a maximal exercise test and during the dance of 2 tangos ("La cumparsita" y "Quejas de bandoneón") and 1 milonga ("La puñalada"). Results: the VO₂ during tango and milonga dancing were 12.3, 12.0 and 15.1 ml O₂/kg/min (46%, 42% and 55% of maximal VO₂). The HR values were 112, 108 and 118 beats/min during dance (68%, 69% and 77% of maximal HR). The VE values were. 18, 20 y 25 1/min (26%, 30% y 36% of maximal VE). VO₂ values were 86%, 82% and 104% of the anaerobic threshold VO₂ and HR values while dancing were 90%, 92% y 102% ofthe anaerobic threshold HR. The VO₂, HR and VE values during milonga dance were higher than during tango dance. The correlations be­tween age and % of the maximal VO₂ were 0.46 (p = 0.04), 0.44 (p = 0.006) and 0.31 (p = 0.18) for each tango and milonga, respectively. Conclusions: tango and milonga dances are exercises of light or moderate intensity. VO₂ values dur­ing these practices are at the anaerobic thresh­old level or below it. Tango dancing is an exer­cise of lower intensity than milonga dancing. The percent of the maximal VO₂ reached was higher in old people.