PT study finds fitness benefit in dance games

uindy-ddr-study-1-webInteractive video stepping games like Dance Dance Revolution can be a fun addition to a productive fitness regimen, according to initial findings from a study at the University of Indianapolis’ Krannert School of Physical Therapy.

Students in a research course  ran a six-week program in which 30 subjects met for three 45-minute sessions each week to play the popular arcade game, a sort of disco hopscotch that involves stepping in time with pulsing music and directional arrows. Although previous studies have examined the game’s effects on kids, the UIndy project, designed and overseen by Assistant Professors Anne Mejia Downs and Stacie Fruth, was the first to look at adult subjects.

Results from an earlier pilot study, presented at the American Association of Physical Therapists national conference, suggested that regular DDR activity could improve blood pressure, body mass index, and oxygen uptake, which is measured with a breathing meter to assess aerobic fitness. More recent data showed improvements in balance and mood, with active heart rates that meet recommended levels for moderate exercise.

Further analyses will look for changes in weight and resting heart rate, another key fitness measure. Anecdotally, some subjects reported sleeping better during the program and said the game aspect of the activity helped them stick with a schedule of regular exercise.

“It’s easy to start a program; it’s hard to keep up with it and make it part of your lifestyle,” Downs told public radio’s Sound Medicine. “This was a way for them to work it into their day, and they developed a kind of camaraderie.”

Fruth noted that people can even arrange their own dance competitions at home.

“You can get home units so cheaply now,” she said, “and you can set up two units at once.”