title: Adapted Tango Improves Mobility, Motor-Cognitive Function, and Gait but Not Cognition in Older Adults in Independent Living.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of adapted tango for improving mobility, motor-cognitive function, and gait; to determine whether former dance experience was associated with improvements; and to evaluate participant satisfaction, changes in depression, and quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quasi-experimental, two-group, repeated-measures preintervention, postintervention, and 3-month postintervention study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diverse senior independent living communities in an urban metropolitan area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals aged 59 to 95 (73% aged 80 and older; 31% nonwhite, 72% female) (N = 74).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were assigned to 20 sessions of 90-minute tango (n = 62) or health education (n = 12) classes over 12 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mobility, motor-cognitive function, gait, cognition, and psychosocial function were evaluated before, immediately after, and 3 months after the intervention. Two (groups) by two (before and after) repeated-measures analyses of variance with post hoc comparisons were used to evaluate differences in primary analyses. Secondary analyses from immediately after to 3 months after were used to examine the data for retention of any gains.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four tango and 10 education participants completed 20 sessions. Significant group by time interactions revealed that tango improved mobility (P = .006), backward and fast gait speeds (P < .001), and motor-cognitive function (P = .03). Education improved depression (P = .001). No relationship was noted between previous dance experience and improvements. Gains were maintained 3 months after the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adapted tango may improve mobility, gait and motor-cognitive function more than health education classes in older adults. Further research is necessary to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation R&D, Decatur, Georgia.|Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Madeleine E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hackney
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Therapy, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Byers
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Therapy, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Therapy, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Morgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Therapy, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rossbach
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation R&D, Decatur, Georgia.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bozzorg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D003615:Dancing; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills; D009068:Movement; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D004856:Postural Balance; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: balance; cognition; exercise; mobility; older adults; tango