Comparison of Neuromuscular Exercises and Dance Therapy on Physical Performance and Kinesiophobia Results in Geriatrics

Human aging is a complex and individual process that occurs in biological, psychological, and social areas. The metabolic and physicochemical characteristics of cells gradually change with age, a process known as biological aging. This results in cellular self-regulation, regeneration, and structural alterations as well as the degeneration of healthy tissues and organs.

Physical performance impairments are linked to a wide range of negative health consequences, including osteoporosis, falls, and fractures, and are one of the most important health problems in geriatrics. Proprioceptive perception is significantly related to postural stability. Musculoskeletal system disorders (in physiological, neurological, kinesthetic, auditory, vestibular proprioception, and cognitive systems) cause balance problems, which may lead to an increase in the frequency of falls in the elderly.

Dance therapy is a physical and mental activity in which the body moves purposefully and rhythmically to music. Regardless of its type, dance brings physical, cognitive and spiritual goals. It includes physical goals such as effective and dynamic body mechanics, movement awareness and control, flexibility, strength, coordination, endurance and thus expanding the body's movement capacity.

Although the effects of dance therapy on strength, flexibility, stress, depression, quality of life, and sleep quality in geriatric patients have been investigated in the Turkish literature, no studies comparing dance therapy with any physical exercise program have been found. It is thought that this study will shed light on the literature in the mentioned field.

The aim of this study is to compare neuromuscular exercises and danceTherapy on physical performance and kinesiophobia results in geriatrics.

Methods:

Participants:

Volunteer individuals who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and are first and second-year students of Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University 60+ Renewal University will participate in the study. Detailed information about the study will be given to each participant who wishes to participate in the study, and their written and verbal consent will be obtained.

According to the power analysis made with the G-power program, it was found that 80% power can be obtained with 95% confidence when at least 30 people are included in the study. While calculating the sample size, timed get-up and walk test results [Group 1: 7.81 (standard deviation: 0.91), Group 2: 9.31 (standard deviation: 1.24)] were taken as a basis and the effect size was calculated as = 1.379. The risk of case loss was taken into account by taking a reserve rate of 20%, and it was planned to include 36 participants. The cases will be divided into 2 groups by block randomization using the internet program, consisting of at least 18 individuals: Group 1 [NE group] and Group 2 [AE group] (Randomizer.org).

Study Protocol:

The study will be divided into two parallel groups: The Neuromuscular Exercise group and the Dance Therapy group. Both groups will participate in exercise programs for 12 weeks.

Evaluations will be administered before and after exercise programs. Data will be collected using the Berg Balance Scale,30-second-Sit-to-Stand Test, Manual Muscle Testing, goniometer measurement, and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia.

Training and Exercise Applications:

A Neuromuscular exercise program consisting of sensorimotor system training, postural stability and control, global and local joint stabilization, balance training, muscle strength, breathing, and functional movement patterns will be created for the participants in Group 1. Exercises will start with breathing and a 10-minute warm-up period, static and dynamic proprioception, kinesthesia training (weighting on the extremities, balance, walking, open kinetic chain, closed kinetic chain exercises), postural control exercises, Frenkel coordination exercises, balance exercises (balance ball). and with a balance board), muscle strength (calisthenic exercises, therabat exercises), plyometric exercises, and core stabilization exercises will be applied progressively over the weeks and will end with a 10-minute cooling period including flexibility and relaxation exercises.

1. Participants in Group 2 will be given dance training by a dance instructor in the gym for 1 hour a day, 2 days a week, for a total of 12 weeks. In dance therapy practices, simple and basic movements are appropriate to the level of the participants, and special attention will be paid to the rhythm of the music not being fast. Latin dances were applied to the participants; selected rumba, merengue, bachata, and salsa movements. Dance therapy will start with a warm-up exercise (10 minutes), then dance exercises will be applied and the activity will end with a cool-down exercise (10 minutes).

Exercise sessions in both groups will last 45-60 minutes and will be applied twice a week for 12 weeks. Blood pressure measurements of all participants will be taken before the applications. Exercise participation will be recorded in each session.

Statistical Analysis:

In the statistical analysis of data will obtain in this study, a Windows-based SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics, Version 24.0, Armonk, NY, USA) package program will use. Continuous variables will express as a mean ± standard deviation or as a median (minimum-maximum values), and categorical variables as a number and percent. Analytical (Kolmogorov-Smirnov/Shapiro-Wilks test) and visual (Histogram and probability graphs) methods will use to test the conformity of data for normal distribution. When the parametric test assumptions were provided, Independent Sample T-Test will use to compare independent group differences; when the parametric test assumptions were not provided, the Mann Whitney-U test will use to compare independent group differences. In the dependent group analyses; when the parametric test assumptions were provided, Paired Sample T-Test will use; when the parametric test assumptions were not provided, Wilcoxon Test will use. Chi-Square Analysis and Fisher Exact Test will use compare differences between categorical variables.