Acute hemodynamic changes associated with dance exercises in females of Lusaka, Zambia

Abstract

The research was titled; Acute Hemodynamic Changes Associated with Dance Exercises in Females of Lusaka, Zambia. Dynamic exercises are known to elicit hemodynamic changes in the cardiovascular system. Zumba and ZOCA are part of a fast growing group of dance fitness programmes designed to provide a cardiovascular dynamic workout by moving the large muscle groups rhythmically, repetitively and continuously following choreography in synchrony to music. However, despite their growing popularity, very few studies have been done to provide knowledge regarding the hemodynamic changes associated with these dance exercises. The study was a case study in which 27 female participants took part in 60 minutes of either a Zumba or ZOCA class. Using digital blood pressure monitors, recordings of blood pressure and heart rate were taken at three different points. The first readings were taken before commencement of the exercise (baseline measures), the second measurements were taken 30 minutes after exercise (peak exercise time) and at the end of the class (after the cool down choreography which is performed slowly in order to gradually restore the body back to its resting state before exercise). The results obtained were as follows; Mean baseline blood pressures were 118 and 77 7 mmHg, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively. After 30 minutes of dancing, mean systolic blood pressure increased to 130 mmHg (p˂ 0.05) while diastolic blood pressure only rose to an average of 80 mmHg (p˃ 0.05). At the end of the class (after the cool down phase) mean systolic blood pressure reduced to 109 mmHg (p˂0.05) while diastolic blood pressure reduced to 74 mmHg (p˂ 0.05). Heart rate increased from a baseline value of 83 16 beats/min to 124 beats/min after 30 minutes of dance exercise (p˂ 0.05) and reduced to 110 17 beats/min at the end of the class (p˂ 0.05). From the heart rate at 30 minutes, the average percentage of maximum heart rate (% HRmax) was calculated to be 65 %. The researchers concluded that Zumba and ZOCA elicited significant hemodynamic changes that can be attributed to these exercises stimulating the cardiovascular regulatory mechanisms sufficiently and hence resulting in autonomic adjustments that were concurrent with dynamic exercise.