Non-specific lower back pain is prevalent in seniors over the age of 55 years in Brazil as one of the reasons for lower back pain is aging. Aging leads to sarcopenia which is the loss of muscle thickness and functionality. The current treatment for lower back pain includes medications and physical therapy which many seniors depend on in order to achieve some mobility in their daily life. However, these traditional methods may be expensive, have side effects, and limit full mobility. Dancing is one of the alternative methods for the treatment of non-specific lower back pain, chronic or acute. Therefore, my research question is: Can samba and tango dance forms lead to an increase in abdominal muscles’ thickness, reduce lower back pain in seniors, and be classified as a relevant treatment for non-specific lower back pain in seniors over the age of 55 years in Brazil? I synthesized knowledge from previous literature about tango and samba affecting the thickness of the abdominal muscles. I identified the role of abdominal muscles, such as transversus abdominis, in providing support to the lower back to reduce the prevalence of non-specific lower back pain. Moreover, I examined the impact of muscle thickness on older adults’ functional mobility and compared tango and samba with physical therapy for lower back pain. By analyzing the impact on the abdominal muscles, previous research concluded that tango and samba recondition two of the four abdominal muscle groups in the lower back: transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus. Although more research regarding the effect of samba and tango on lower back pain and the reconditioning of abdominal muscles needs to be conducted, samba and tango dance forms, along with physical therapy, may be viable options to reduce non-specific lower back pain in seniors over the age of 55 years in Brazil.
The Physical Benefits of Tango and Samba Dance on Seniors with Non-specific Lower Back Pain
Category
Exercise Science and Nutrition 2