title: Attitudes of postmenopausal women toward interactive video dance for exercise.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although physical activity (PA) is universally recommended, most adults are not regular exercisers. Interactive video dance is a novel form of PA in widespread use among young adults, but interest among adults is not known. Postmenopausal women are an appropriate target for interventions to promote PA because they have an increased risk of health problems related to sedentary behavior. We explored perceived advantages and disadvantages of video dance as a personal exercise option in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty sedentary postmenopausal women (mean age +/- SD 57 +/- 5 years), were oriented in eight small groups to interactive video dance, which uses a force-sensing pad with directional panels: the player steps on the panels in response to arrows scrolling on a screen, synchronized to music. Perceived advantages and disadvantages were elicited through a nominal group technique (NGT) process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants generated 113 advantages and 71 disadvantages. The most frequently cited advantages were "it's fun" and "improves coordination" (seven of eight groups), the fact that challenge encourages progress (five of eight groups), the potential for weight loss (four of eight groups), and the flexibility of exercise conditions (three of eight groups). Concerns were the potentially long and frustrating learning process, cost (six of eight groups), and possible technical issues (two of eight groups).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recreational nature of interactive dance exercise was widely appealing to postmenopausal women and might help promote adherence to PA. Initial support to learn basic technical and movement skills may be needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. inzitarim@edc.pitt.edu
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inzitari
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greenlee
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: Subashan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Studenski
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D003615:Dancing / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D014743:Videotape Recording / Q000379:methods*; D016387:Women's Health