Regular dance classes could help older adults with lower back pain regain confidence in movement and improve mobility.
Group dance sessions could help the elderly ease back pain
The findings come from a study in Bournemouth that explored whether dancing in a group setting could offer an alternative to traditional rehabilitation exercises.
Researchers found that combining gentle movement with social interaction helped participants feel less fearful of physical activity and more motivated to stay active.
Consultant physiotherapist Neil Langridge, who helped lead the project at Health Sciences University, said the approach moves people away from the typical clinical environment associated with rehabilitation.
He told the BBC: “Basic exercises can be boring and sticking to an exercise plan can be difficult.
“Patients with lower back pain are often afraid to move, and exercises that focus on one part of the body can sometimes feel painful. Dancing creates a different context – it takes people out of the medical environment and puts them in a social setting where they can enjoy moving together.”
The six-week study involved three groups and was hosted at The Pavilion in Bournemouth by Pavilion Dance instructors. Researchers monitored whether regular dance sessions could help people with chronic back pain move more comfortably.
After completing the programme, many participants said they felt more confident about movement and less focused on their pain.
Among those who joined were elderly couple Trevor and Lorraine Mudimmer, who have continued attending the classes since the study ended.
Lorraine said: “The two ladies that teach us are brilliant – they’re so much fun, and that’s one of the reasons we keep coming.”
The couple said they had always enjoyed dancing and wanted to remain active while managing back pain.
Trevor said: “We’re very much in the mindset of ‘use it or lose it’.”
Lorraine explained that before joining the sessions she struggled to walk the short distance into town without stopping.
She said: “But now I can walk there, do my shopping and walk back. I’m still in pain by the time I get home, but it’s a lot better.”
Researchers hope the findings will encourage more community-based exercise programmes for people living with chronic back pain.