title: Effect of dance therapy on blood pressure and exercise capacity of individuals with hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dance therapy is a less conventional modality of physical activity in cardiovascular rehabilitation. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effects of dance therapy in hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pubmed, Scopus, LILACS, IBECS, MEDLINE and SciELO via Virtual Health Library (Bireme) (from the earliest data available to February 2016) for controlled trials that investigated the effects of dance therapy on exercise capacity, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I(2) test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four studies met the eligibility criteria. Dance therapy resulted in a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (WMD -12.01mmHg; 95% CI: -16.08, -7.94mmHg; P<0.0001) when compared with control subjects. Significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure were also found (WMD -3.38mmHg; 95% CI: -4.81, -1.94mmHg; P<0.0001), compared with control group. Exercise capacity showed a significant improvement (WMD 1.31; 95% CI: 0.16, 2.47; P<0.03). A moderate to high heterogeneity was observed in our analysis: I(2)=92% to SBP, I(2)=55% to DBP, and I(2)=82% to exercise capacity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our meta-analysis showed a positive effect of dance therapy on exercise capacity and reduction of SBP and DBP in individuals with hypertension. However, the moderate to high heterogeneity found in our analysis limits a pragmatic recommendation of dance therapy in individuals with hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy and Post-Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe - UFS, Brazil; The GREAT Group (GRupo de Estudos em ATividade física), Brazil. Electronic address: linosergiorocha@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lino Sergio Rocha
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Conceição
authors.affiliation: The GREAT Group (GRupo de Estudos em ATividade física), Brazil; Department of Physical Therapy, Health Sciences Institute, Federal University of Bahia - UFBA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mansueto Gomes
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy and Post-Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe - UFS, Brazil; The GREAT Group (GRupo de Estudos em ATividade física), Brazil.
authors.forename: Mayra Alves Soares
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: do Amaral
authors.affiliation: Investigative Pathology Laboratory, Federal University of Sergipe-UFS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Ricardo Saquete
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Martins-Filho
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy and Post-Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe - UFS, Brazil; The GREAT Group (GRupo de Estudos em ATividade física), Brazil.
authors.forename: Vitor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Oliveira Carvalho
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D003614:Dance Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Blood pressure; Dance; Exercise; Meta-analysis