The effect of dance on physical health and cognition in community dwelling older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Dancing is an attractive form of exercise among older  adults and may positively influence physical and psychosocial  health. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the  evidence examining the dance prescription and effectiveness of  dance in community dwelling older adults. Methods: Eight databases were searched to identify randomized  controlled trials that evaluated the effectiveness of dance programs  on community-dwelling older adults from 2007 to December 2020.  Data regarding participants, dance programs and outcomes of  interest were extracted and narratively synthesized. A meta-analysis was performed on the outcome data where possible. Results: Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria, of those 15  were deemed to be fair quality and 7 high quality using the PEDro  scale. Nineteen studies included in the meta-analysis found that  dancing can improve mobility and endurance compared to no  intervention and afforded equivalent outcomes compared to  other exercise programs. Conclusion: The findings suggest that dance is an effective, safe  and viable activity for community-dwelling older adults..