Wednesday 16 April 2014

Improving health and wellbeing through dance


The benefits of physical activity for our health and wellbeing are well documented, described by some as the ‘wonder-drug’.[1] The Government has recommended that we do at least thirty minutes of moderate exercise five times per week.[2] A staggering percentage of the population, however, fall short of this target. According to recent research, 80% of adults surveyed did not achieve the recommended level of physical activity.[3] The level of inactivity amongst children and older people is similarly concerning; research suggests that around 49% of children do not achieve the recommended target for their age group.[4] This figure rises to an overwhelming 92.5% for people over the age of seventy-five.[5]

As a society, we are leading increasingly sedentary lives, with much of our time spent sat down at a desk, in a car or in front of the television. This is a significant contributing factor in the soaring rates of obesity across all age groups, as well as the increasing prevalence of conditions such as type-2 diabetes and cancer[6]. People experience a variety of barriers to physical exercise, such as a lack of local sports facilities, financial constraints, feeling self-conscience or having a lack of enjoyment in sporting activities. It is vital that individuals have access to physical activities that help to overcome some of these barriers; dance may be one such option.

Dance offers an inclusivity rarely found with other forms of physical exercise. The almost endless list of dance styles, from street and hip-hop to ballroom and jazz, can all be easily adapted to suit different age groups, cultural backgrounds or level of ability. The ‘Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing’ project run by the Royal Academy of Dance catered for their older participants, the oldest of whom was 102, by adapting the classes for chair or frame based dancing[7]. Whilst other forms of physical exercise may suffer from high drop-out rates, the level of enjoyment and motivation amongst dancing participants remains high.[8] A survey conducted in 2011 found that amongst young people, dancing is now the second most popular physical activity in the United Kingdom, second only to football.[9]

Dancing can be a highly sociable activity, focusing less on competition and more on the freedom of self-expression and in the case of styles such as Syrtos or Tango, a celebration of cultural heritage.  For these reasons, evidence indicates that participation in dance can be hugely beneficial for mental health and wellbeing, helping to reduce feelings of social isolation, stress, anxiety and depression. Dancing can also increase feelings of confidence and self-esteem and provide a coping strategy for the stresses of daily life.[10]  Youth Dance England emphasises that dance can also be beneficial for the development of social skills in younger people and can be instrumental in encouraging positive attitudes more generally to health and wellbeing, changing views on issues such as drug and alcohol abuse[11].  A study conducted in Sweden, focusing on teenage girls suffering from mental health issues such as stress, found that those who participated in dance classes twice per week reported significant improvements in self-rated health, an effect which lasted for up to a year after the classes ended.[12]

Moreover, there is a wealth of research demonstrating the substantial benefits of dance for physical health. Dance is an enjoyable method of maintaining a healthy weight, thus reducing the risk of largely avoidable conditions such as heart disease and stroke. The movements involved in dancing have also been proven to increase flexibility, balance and co-ordination, which can reduce an individual’s risk of suffering from osteoarthritis and is particularly significant for older people; studies have shown that for older people participation in dance can reduce the risk of suffering a fall[13]. Dancing also offers considerable cognitive benefits, such as improving memory, as it requires the utilisation of several skills at once, such as memorising steps, listening to the rhythm of the music and physical movement. According to one study conducted over a 21 year period, dancing can reduce the risk of developing dementia by approximately 76%.[14] These benefits are the motivation behind programmes such as the English National Ballet’s ‘Dance for Parkinsons’ and ‘Dance for Dementia’ classes and also, the dance classes provided as part of Age UK’s ‘Fit as a Fiddle’ initiative.

Government cuts to funding for the arts is an enduring concern for arts organisations in this country. Since 2010, Arts Council England has seen their grant-in-aid funding cut by around a third[15], resulting in severe cuts for many groups, including those focusing on dance. A growing body of literature, however, demonstrates the hugely positive impact dance could have on avoidable illness, which is currently placing a huge financial burden on the NHS, welfare system and the economy. With the widespread appeal of dance and the wide-ranging benefits it offers, dancing is a vital tool for health improvement initiatives.  

The RSPH has now opened submissions for the Arts and Health Awards 2014. This year the awards will focus on the value of creative arts for older people with long term conditions in the community or within health and social care settings.  More information can be found here.




References

[1] The Guardian. Physical Activity the Underrated Wonder-Drug. Available online at: http://www.theguardian.com/living-with-cancer-macmillan-partner-zone/physical-activity-the-underrated-wonder-drug (Last accessed 1st April 2014)
[2] NHS Choices. Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults. Available online at: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults.aspx  (Last accessed 1st April 2014)
[3] The Independent. 80% of Adults in England ‘don’t exercise enough’. Available online at: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/80-of-adults-in-england-dont-exercise-enough-8741988.html (Last accessed 1st April 2014)
[4] British Broadcasting Corporation. Children need more Exercise – especially Girls, Study says. Available online at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23778945 (Last accessed 1st April 2014)
[5] BUPA. Keep Dancing...The Health and Wellbeing Benefits on Dance for Older People. London: BUPA, 2011. Available online at: http://www.cpa.org.uk/information/reviews/shall-we-dance-report.pdf (Last accessed 1st April 2014)
[6] British Broadcasting Corporation. Inactivity ‘killing as many as smoking’. Available  online at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-18876880 (Last accessed 15th April 2014)
[7] Baber M. Dance and lifelong well being. Available online at: http://www.agewatch.org.uk/fitness/dance-and-lifelong-well-being/  (Last accessed 15th April 2014)
[8] ibid
[9] Arts Council England. Dance and Health – The Benefits for People of all Ages. London: Arts Council England. Available online  at: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/media/uploads/documents/publications/phpN0GNFD.pdf (Last accessed 1st April 2014)
[10] Burkhardt J, Rhodes J. Commissioning Dance for Health and Wellbeing – Guidance and Resources for Commissioners. Available online at: http://www.obesitywm.org.uk/resources/Dance_Active_-_Commissioning_Doc_Jan_Burkhardt_V6Final1V3_2.pdf (2012, last accessed 1st April 2014)
[11] Youth Dance England. Dance and Health. Available online at: http://www.yde.org.uk/main.cfm?type=HEALTH (last accessed 15th April 2014)
[12] Duberg A, Hagberg L, Sunvisson H, Moller M.  Influencing Self-rated Health Among Adolescent Girls With Dance Intervention A Randomized Controlled Trial. Archives of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 2012; 167: 27 - 31
[13] BUPA, 2011.
[14] Ibid.
[15] Financial Times. Arts funding ‘flashpoint’ is local authority spending cuts. Available online  at: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d3983bce-9d7a-11e3-83c5-00144feab7de.html#axzz2yxqOFViJ (Last accessed 15th April 2014)