LAUSR

Background: Dancing has been increasingly used as a type of exercise intervention to improve cardiovascular fitness of older people. However, it is unclear which may be the exercise intensity of the dance sessions. Objective: To describe cardiorespiratory responses of a dance session for older women, and to identify intensity zones in relation to peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), first and second ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2). Methods: Ten women (66 ± 5 yrs., BMI 27 ± 4) were examined on three occasions: Familiarization, maximum effort and dance sessions. Incremental treadmill test: 5 km/h, 2% slope each min, until maximum effort. Dance class (60 min): warm‐up (20 min), across‐the‐floor (10 min), choreography (15 min), show (10 min) and cool‐down (5 min). Ventilatory parameters were measured continuously (breath‐by‐breath). Results: VO2 (mL·kg−1·min−1): Maximum effort: VO2peak (23.3 ± 4.3), VT1 (17.2 ± 3.5) and VT2 (20.9 ± 3.4). Dancing: warm‐up (12.8 ± 2.4, ˜55%VO2peak), across‐the‐floor (14.2 ± 2.4 ˜62%VO2peak), choreography (14.6 ± 3.2 ˜63%VO2peak) and show (16.1 ± 3.3, ˜69% VO2peak). Show was similar to VT1. Conclusions: Cardiorespiratory demands of a dance class for older women are at low aerobic intensity. Show was similar to VT1, indicating that a dance class may be modulated to improve aerobic fitness, at least at initial stages of training. HighlightsCardiorespiratory demands of dancing for older women are at low aerobic intensity.The show part (choreography learned) was similar to the first ventilatory threshold.The show may be manipulated (exercise/rest) for developing aerobic conditioning.Dancing may be a potential exercise for improving cardiovascular health with aging.