July 15th, 2010 by soul4dance

Illinois at Chicago University of researcher is conducting a pilot study to find out that if salsa dance can get better the health of aged Latinos who have a limited mobility and face elevated risks of disability. David Xavier Marquez, assistant professor of kinesiology and nutrition, has recruited 13 Latinos, and all 55 or older and who have done a little or no exercise the past year, into a 12-week dance class. Marquez will hopes that adopt this enjoyable physical activity, improving their health with along the way.

“It is a culturally suitable physical activity for Latinos.” Many grow up dancing at family gatherings and other celebrations and functions. But Marquez said that, many don’t have the opportunity to do it now.

While Marquez involved about 45 potential participants in his improve the health competition, his pilot study is limited to people who are relatively to an inactive and have limited mobility.

President and CEO of Humboldt Park-based Dance Academy of Salsa, Mr. Miguel Mendez, who has more than 18 years of teaching experienced in dance, suggested dances to use for the program, done twice a week in one-hour sessions.

All dance sessions are take place at Villa Guadalupe Social Services.

The healthiest program is called BAILAMOS-Spanish for “we dance,” but also that an acronym for “Balance and Activity in Latinos, Addressing Mobility in Older adults only.”

All Participants were tested for ability, balance, strength, gait speed, endurance, and physical activity levels to dance.

Marquez will short the participants and their teacher when the pilot study ends to learn what the improvements can go into a larger, more comprehensive study he will hopes to get funding to conduct.

While Marquez’s study focused on mainly the elderly once to the fast-growing Latino population of urban Chicago, using dance as an exercise intervention among other elderly populations, regardless of ethnicity or region, may prove to be a way to better health.

He will also hope finally to study if dance can help prevent the diabetes, fatness and reduce the risk for heart disease.

“Dance works all over for health improvement. There is nothing specific to the biology or physiology of Latinos that would be making it only works for them,” said Marquez.