Thai Classical Dance Exercise for Fall Prevention
Pittavat Leelapattana MD1, Sittiporn Unyaphan MD1, Chaiwat Kraiwattanapong MD1, Patarawan Woratanarat MD, PhD1, Chusak Kijkunasathain MD1, Chanika Angsanuntsukh MD1, Wiwat Wajanavisit MD1
Affiliation : 1 Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Falls are one of the major causes of injury and loss of independence in the elderly and are significantly
associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Balance impairment and muscle weakness are the most prevalent risk
factors for falls in the elderly. Several kinds of therapeutic exercises have been demonstrated to reduce the risk of falls in older
people. Thai classical dance uses key muscles of the upper and lower extremities to control body balance and to maintain an
upright position. Thai classical dance exercise challenges key muscles, providing both muscle strengthening and balance
training which can reduce the risk of falls, although those benefits have not yet been documented.
Objective : To evaluate the efficacy of Thai classical dance exercise for fall prevention in the elderly using physical performance
tests.
Study design: Randomized controlled trial.
Materials and Methods : A double-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted at Ramathibodi Hospital during 2014
to 2015. Self-ambulatory older women were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The experimental group participated
in daily 10 minute programmed Thai classical dance exercises; the control group participated in daily 10-minute sessions of
arm swing exercise. Both groups participated in the exercise programs for 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was
improvement in physical performance as determined by standard tests including 3-meter tandem gait, timed up and go, and
chair rise (sit and stand) tests. Physical performance was evaluated at baseline and after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of exercise.
Analysis of variance was used to compare the outcomes between the two groups.
Results : There were 19 participants in experimental group and 20 in control group with an average age of 66.4 and 66.9 years,
respectively. After 12 weeks of exercise, the experimental group had significantly improved over baseline on the timed up and
go test and on the tandem walk test (p = 0.002 and 0.001, respectively), and had also significantly improved on the timed up
and go test compared to the control group (average 14.2+4.3 to 9.2+2.9 sec, and 13.0+3.8 to 11.2+4.3 sec, respectively;
p-value = 0.0125). There was no difference in the chair rise test between the groups.
Conclusion : Daily Thai classical dance exercise for one month is an efficacious way to improve physical performance in
older women and to help reduce the risk of falls.
Keywords : Thai classical dance, Exercise, Fall prevention, Physical performance
