Pablo A. Domene

Combined triaxial accelerometry and heart rate telemetry for the physiological characterization of Latin dance in non-professional adults.

The purpose of this study was to value calibrate, cross-validate, and determine the reliability of a combined triaxial accelerometry and heart rate telemetry technique for characterizing the physiological and physical activity parameters of Latin dance. Twenty-two non-professional adult Latin dancers attended two laboratory-based dance trials each. After familiarization and a standardized warm-up, a multi-stage (3 x 5-minute) incremental (based on song tempo) Afro-Cuban salsa choreography was performed while following a video displayed on a projection screen. Data were collected with a portable indirect calorimeter, a heart rate telemeter, and wrist-, hip-, and ankle-mounted ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers. Prediction equations for energy expenditure and step count were value calibrated using forced entry multiple regression and cross-validated using a delete-one jackknife approach with additional Bland-Altman analysis. The average dance intensity reached 6.09 ± 0.96 kcal/kg/h and demanded 45.9 ± 11.3% of the heart rate reserve. Predictive ability of the derived models was satisfactory, where R(2) = 0.80; SEE = 0.44 kcal/kg/h and R(2) = 0.74; SEE = 3 step/min for energy expenditure and step count, respectively. Dependent t-tests indicated no differences between predicted and measured values for both energy expenditure (t65 = -0.25, p = 0.80) and step count (t65 = -0.89, p = 0.38). The 95% limits of agreement for energy expenditure and step count were -0.98 to 0.95 kcal/kg/h and -7 to 7 step/min, respectively. Latin dance to salsa music elicits physiological responses representative of moderate to vigorous physical activity, and a wrist-worn accelerometer with simultaneous heart rate measurement constitutes a valid and reliable technique for the prediction of energy expenditure and step count during Latin dance.

Physiological and perceptual responses to Latin partnered social dance

The purpose of this study was to investigate the physiological and perceptual responses to Latin partnered social dance to salsa music when performed as a self-selected activity within an ecologically valid setting. Eighteen non-professional adult Latin dancers undertook a laboratory-based graded exercise test for determination of maximal oxygen uptake and maximal heart rate. The dancers then attended two Latin partnered social dance sessions in established salsa venues in London, UK over a 2 wk period. Physiological data were collected using a wrist-worn ActiGraph wGT3X+ accelerometer with accompanying heart rate monitor. Perceived benefits of dance were assessed via the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale, and measurement of state intrinsic motivation during dance was undertaken using the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory. Total step count during 2h of dance was not different (t16 = -.39, p = .71) between females and males (9643 ± 1735 step); however, women expended a significantly lower (t16 = -2.57, p < .05) total energy expenditure when compared to men (479 ± 125 versus 651 ± 159 kcal). Dancers of both genders considered interest-enjoyment to be the motivator of primary importance. The highest rated perceived benefit of dance was psychological outlook. Latin partnered social dance to salsa music demands moderate to vigorous physical activity intensity levels, and further, fosters interest, enjoyment, and a positive psychological outlook among novice to advanced adult Latin dancers taking part primarily for leisure purposes. These findings may be of use for those interested in the efficacy of Latin social dancing as an expressive medium for the promotion of community health.

Salsa dance and Zumba fitness: Acute responses during community-based classes

Background Research interest in both partnered Latin dance and non-partnered Latin-themed aerobic dance has increased in recent years, likely a result of the gaining popularity of these types of instructor-led group classes among the mainstream dance and fitness audiences; however, the efficacy of these activities for the purposes of health promotion currently remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to simultaneously assess the physiological responses and psychological experiences during salsa dance and Zumba fitness in a community sample of physically inactive women. Methods Twenty-four participants, aged 22–56 years, visited the laboratory to perform a graded exercise test for determination of maximal oxygen uptake and maximal heart rate. The participants then attended 2 partnered salsa dance and 2 non-partnered Zumba fitness classes each in a counterbalanced order over a 2-week period. The 1-h classes were taught by certified instructors in established venues in the Royal Borough of Kingston and the surrounding communities of London, UK. Physiological data were collected using a wrist-worn ActiGraph wGT3X+ accelerometer with accompanying heart rate monitor and were processed using previously validated dance-specific techniques. Psychological experiences were measured via the Subjective Exercise Experiences Scale. Results There was a significantly higher (p < 0.001) total time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (51.2 ± 3.1 vs. 32.6 ± 5.9 min), total energy expenditure (411 ± 66 vs. 210 ± 46 kcal), and total step count (6773 ± 556 vs. 4108 ± 781 steps) during Zumba fitness when compared to salsa dance. Significant pre- to post-class improvements in positive well-being (p < 0.01, partial η2 = 0.41) and psychological distress (p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.72) were simultaneously observed for both salsa dance and Zumba fitness. Conclusion The acute responses to classes of partnered Latin dance and non-partnered Latin-themed aerobic dance suggest that in physically inactive women participation is indeed efficacious in terms of community-based physical activity and psychosocial health promotion.

The health-enhancing efficacy of Zumba® fitness: An 8-week randomised controlled study

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to gain a holistic understanding of the efficacy of Zumba® fitness in a community-recruited cohort of overweight and physically inactive women by evaluating (i) its physiological effects on cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory biomarkers and (ii) its mental health-enhancing effects on factors of health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Participants were randomly assigned to either engagement in one to two 1 h classes of Zumba® fitness weekly (intervention group; n = 10) or maintenance of habitual activity (control group; n = 10). Laboratory assessments were conducted pre- (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8) with anthropometric, physiological, inflammatory and HRQoL data collected. In the intervention group, maximal oxygen uptake significantly increased (P < 0.05; partial η2 = 0.56) by 3.1 mL · kg−1 · min−1, per cent body fat significantly decreased (P < 0.05; partial η2 = 0.42) by –1.2%, and interleukin-6 and white blood cell (WBC) count both significantly decreased (P < 0.01) by –0.4 pg · mL−1 (partial η2 = 0.96) and –2.1 × 109 cells · L−1 (partial η2 = 0.87), respectively. Large magnitude enhancements were observed in the HRQoL factors of physical functioning, general health, energy/fatigue and emotional well-being. When interpreted in a community-based physical activity and psychosocial health promotion context, our data suggest that Zumba® fitness is indeed an efficacious health-enhancing activity for adults.

Validity of Smartphone Accelerometers for Assessing Energy Expenditure during Fast Running

Recent advances in smartphone technology have facilitated the generation of mobile applications to monitor exercise performance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the triaxial accelerometers in the HTC and Samsung platforms for assessing energy expenditure (EE) during walking and fast running.

Injury surveillance of female adult Zumba® dancers

BACKGROUND We sought to describe the patterns of injury and to establish the injury incidence rates associated with Zumba®. METHODS Zumba® dancers were invited to complete an anonymous web-based survey containing 13 demographic background and 14 (1 year retrospective) injury history questions. Inclusion criteria stated that the respondents had to be aged 18-64 years and currently involved in group-based classes of Zumba®, either as a registered instructor or class participant. Binomial logistic regression analysis was used to predict the odds of injury during Zumba® and Mann-Whitney Tests were employed to ascertain differences between groups. RESULTS The survey response rate was 74%. The final sample of respondents (N.=138; female=100%) included 19 registered instructors and 119 class participants, of which 58% and 16%, respectively, sustained ≥1 injury during Zumba® in the past year. The odds of injury was 7 (95% CI 2-19) times greater (P<0.01) for registered instructors than for class participants. Zumba® dancers had a 17 (95% CI 7-28) % greater (P<0.01) odds of injury for every 1 hour of non-Zumba®-related moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) engagement per week. The injury incidence rate for registered instructors and class participants was 5.7 (95% CI 3.1-8.2) and 3.9 (95% CI 2.5-5.3) injuries per 1000 hours of exposure, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Zumba® presents a low risk of injury; for registered instructors, the increased risk of injury is likely due to the high total volume of MVPA participated in weekly.

Physiological and psychological responses to Latin partner-based social dancing under free-living conditions

Previous literature has shown a small but positive effect of exercise on cognitive function in young people (Chang et al [2012]. Brain Research, 1453, 87-101), though this relationship is complicated by factors such as the mode, intensity and duration of exercise, the components of cognitive function examined and the timing of the cognitive tests relative to exercise. Specifically, bilateral coordinative exercise (exercise with a greater cognitive involvement) has been demonstrated to improve subsequent attention in adolescents (Budde et al [2008]. Neuroscience Letters, 441, 229-223). The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of a circuit of aerobic and coordinative exercises on Stroop test performance in adolescents. Following approval from the institutions ethical advisory committee, 34 adolescents (age: 13.2±0.3 years; height: 155.4±6.0 cm; body mass: 50.2±9.9 kg) completed a familiarisation session followed by two (exercise and resting) experimental trials. Sixty minutes following provision of an ad libitum breakfast (matched for subsequent experimental trial), participants completed the 15 min bout of exercise or continued to rest. The exercise consisted of a circuit of 10 exercises (alternate aerobic and coordinative exercises), each completed for 1 min with 30 s rest between stations. The Stroop test, measuring attention and executive function, was completed 30 min pre-, 5 min post- and 60 min post-exercise. Heart rate during the exercise was 158±15 beats.min-1. Response times were not different across the morning on the exercise and resting trials, between the baseline and complex levels of the Stroop test (trial by session time by test level interaction, P=0.408). However, there was a significant trial by session time by test level interaction for accuracy on the Stroop test (P=0.039).Upon further analysis, this was due to an improvement in accuracy 5 min post-exercise on the baseline level of the Stroop test (exercise + 2.1%, resting -1.8 %; trial by session time interaction, P=0.010), an effect which was not evident on the complex level (trial by session time interaction, P=0.543). The findings of the present study suggest that the accuracy of attention and executive function (as assessed by the Stroop test) is enhanced immediately following circuits based exercise in adolescents, but that this effect is not evident 60 min post-exercise. There was no effect of the circuits based exercise on response times on the Stroop test. These results have implications for school policy makers, given the importance of cognitive function (and in particular executive function) for academic performance.