The Effect of Concurrent Aerobic Dance, Strength, Flexibility and Balance Training Programs on Physical Fitness and Health in Adults

Abstract

Recent studies have focused on the efficacy of concurrent aerobic and neuromuscular training programs (i.e. aerobic exercise, stretching, balance and resistance exercise) to improve different aspects of physical fit-ness and health indices. The aim of this study was to review the effects of different concurrent (serial or inte-grated) aerobic dance, strength, flexibility and/or balance training programs on physical fitness and health in young, middle-aged and elderly individuals. It seems that concurrent (serial or integrated) aerobic dance, strength, flexibility and/or balance training programs (8-24 weeks, 2-3 times/week) improve aerobic capaci-ty (increase maximal oxygen consumption and maximal minute ventilation and decrease heart rate and rate of perceived exertion during maximal or submaximal exercise) of young, middle-aged and elderly individu-als. Studies that examined the effects of different concurrent aerobic dance, strength, flexibility and/or bal-ance training programs on body mass, body composition, muscle strength and endurance of lower limbs have reported inconsistent findings. Differences in loading parameters of concurrent training, the sequence of aerobic, strength, flexibility and balance training as well as subjects’ characteristics (i.e. age, sex, training status) may account for these equivocal findings. Moreover, the few studies examined the effects of different concurrent aerobic dance, strength, flexibility and/or balance training programs on flexibility, balance, mus-cle strength and endurance of upper limbs, power, blood pressure, respiratory function and lipid profile have also reported equivocal findings. Finally, the only study, that compared the effectiveness of a serial and integrated concurrent aerobic dance and strength training program, reported that both training programs significantly improved health aspects (body composition, waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure, respiratory function) and overall fitness (flexibility, static and dynamic balance, muscle strength and endurance, power, aerobic capacity) in middle-aged females.