Moving through didactic of human movement and bodily experience: A motion analysis preliminary study

Dance is considered an educational-pedagogical strategy useful in motor learning for improving mobility in the elderly. Ageing people are often involved in falling episodes that occur during daily activities, such as walking. The purpose of this pilot study was to compare two different didactic approach on gait parameters of elderly: Dance and aerobic physical activity. By means of a motion analysis approach, 20 ageing people without cognitive, neurological or orthopaedic problems were enrolled. Data were collected using an optoelectronic system (BTS®). Participants were randomly assigned to Dance (Dg) or Physical activity (PAg) groups. Gait parameters were evaluated at study entry (t0) and at 10weeks (t1, end of training). Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measure ANOVA. Results showed that at t0 the two groups did not differ for all parameters. At t1 a significant improvement in gait parameters was observed in Dg group. Within Dg, post hoc comparison between t0 and t1 showed a significant effect for several gait parameters. Within PAg, no significant differences were found in all examined parameters. In conclusion, our preliminary findings showed that Dance is a bodily experience that may target primary prevention for ageing falls and benefit motor learning and locomotion.