Aerobic Capacity in Regular Physical Exercise Group and Indian Classical Dancers: A Comparative Study

Introduction: Dance in its many forms has recently received much attention in medical literature and considerable promotion in the lay press. This has been in keeping with current awareness of physical fitness, which has been the result of increasing evidence linking cardiovascular disease to physical inactivity, lack of cardiopulmonary fitness and obesity. One such program is aerobic or cardiovascular training program. Cardiovascular fitness is one of the most important health component required for performing more physical work with many health benefits. It is common notion that, only physical exercise provides fitness and is beneficial to health. Attempts have been made in the past to correlate other physical activities like ballet (western dance) with established physical exercise routines in gymnasium.1, 2. Indian classical dance is one of the physical activities as it is performed regularly.

Material and Methods: The study group consists of 30 female subjects aged 17-30 yrs from each group who had received training in their respective physical exercise/ activity for a minimum duration of 6 months. Aerobic power was determined by simple exercise step test (Queen's College step test). Grading of aerobic capacity was done by using indirect estimation of VO2 Max.

Results: Comparison in the given study groups showed that; not only conventional aerobic exercises but also any physical activity (Indian classical dance) performed regularly improved cardiovascular endurance of an individual. This improvement in endurance was statistically proved.

Discussion: Comparison in the given study groups showed that; not only conventional aerobic exercises but also any physical activity (Indian classical dance) performed regularly improved cardiovascular endurance of an individual. This improvement in endurance was statistically proved.

Conclusion: The mean value of the vo2 max in ml/kg/min was found to be higher in Indian classical dancers than females engaged in gymnasium. The number and percentage of females falling into good and average category was more in Indian classical dancers than females engaged in gymnasium. The percentage of Indian classical dancers from Bharatnatyam type falling into good category was more than Indian classical dancers from Kathak type. This concludes that the vo2 max in ml/kg/ml and aerobic capacity under grading into "good" and "average" category was more in Indian classical dancers than females engaged in gymnasium.