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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06260124

Acute Physiological Effects of Greek Traditional Dancing

In Greece, people of different age groups, including young children to older adults, are involved in traditional dance. To date, the well-know benefits of dancing include entertainment, socialization and increased physical activity. However, the acute effects of Greek traditional dancing on health, physical performance and muscle damage indices remain largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this project is to evaluate the acute effect of Greek traditional dancing on health-, physical performance-, and muscle damage-related parameters by considering the impact of dancing tempo (slow vs moderate vs fast). In a crossover repeated measures design 10 pre- and 10 post-menopausal women will participate in the three dancing sessions of different tempo in a random order.

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Key information

Conditions

Menopause Body Composition Cardiovascular Health Muscle Damage Physical Performance

Age range

20 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Thessaly, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science

Trikala, Thessaly, 42100, Greece

About this study

This study aims at determining the acute effect of Greek traditional dancing on health- and physical performance-related parameters by considering the impact of dancing tempo. Ten pre- and ten postmenopausal women meeting the inclusion criteria will be assigned to a crossover trial. Initially, participants will undergo baseline testing including (i) anthropometrics, (ii) body composition, (iii) physical performance, (iv) physical activity level and (v) dietary intake. After baseline measurements, a 7-day familiarization period will take place, during which participants will practice daily on the three experimental dances. Each dance will be characterized by a different tempo (beats per minute) so that there will be one dance from each tempo category (i.e. slow, moderate and fast). After familiarization, participants will execute in a random order the three dancing sessions, on separate days. Each dancing session will consist of one dance (of either slow or moderate or fast tempo) lasting ~ 3- 4 minutes. During each dance heart rate, oxygen consumption and activity intensity will be continuously monitored. Before and immediately after the dance systolic and diastolic blood pressure, perceived exertion and blood lactate will be measure. In addition, before each dance and at 24 and 48 hours post-dance muscle soreness, muscle strength and resting metabolic rate will be measured and a resting blood sample will be drawn for the assessment of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
  • Abstain from vigorous physical activity and/or exercise during the last (at least) 6 months prior to the study.
  • Free of musculoskeletal diseases and injuries.
  • Free of cardiometabolic diseases.
  • Free of mental health disorders
  • No body weight loss >10% over the last 6 months prior to the study
  • Non-smokers

Exclusion criteria

  • Perimenopause and menopause women
  • Participation vigorous physical activity and/or exercise during the last (at least) 6 months prior to the study
  • Presence of musculoskeletal diseases and injuries.
  • Presence of cardiometabolic diseases.
  • Presence of mental health disorders
  • Body weight loss >10% over the last 6 months prior to the study
  • Smokers

Treatment and study plan

Slow tempo

Other

A single Greek traditional dance of slow tempo lasting 3-4 minutes.

Moderate tempo

Other

A single Greek traditional dance of moderate tempo lasting 3-4 minutes.

Fast tempo

Other

A single Greek traditional dance of fast tempo lasting 3-4 minutes.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in blood pressure

    Time frame: At baseline and immediately after the dance

    Systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be measured using a blood pressure cuff

  2. Change in perceived exertion

    Time frame: At baseline and immediately after the dance

    Perceived exertion will be rated using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion scale, a numerical scale that ranges from 6 (no exertion) to 20 (maximum effort).

  3. Change in blood lactate

    Time frame: At baseline and immediately after the dance

    Blood lactate will be measured on a portable, automatic lactate analyser using the relevant strips

  4. Change in resting metabolic rate

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    Resting metabolic rate (kcal) will be assessed using a portable open-circuit indirect calorimeter with a ventilated hood system

  5. Change in delayed-onset of muscle soreness (DOMS)

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    DOMS of the knee extensors and flexors of both limbs will be evaluated by palpation of the relaxed muscle's belly and distal region with participants rating the perceived soreness on a visual analogue scale ranging from 1 to 10.

  6. Change in maximal isometric voluntary contraction

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    Maximal isometric voluntary contraction of the knee extensors and flexors of both limbs will be assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer.

  7. Change in joint range of motion

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    Knee joint range of motion will be assessed using a manual goniometer

  8. Change in functional performance

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    Functional performance will be assessed using the movement-based screening tool functional movement screen (FMS)

  9. Change in white blood cell count

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    White blood cell count will be measured using an automatic blood analyzer

  10. Change in granulocyte count

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    Granulocyte count will be measured using an automatic blood analyzer

  11. Change in lymphocytes

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    Lymphocytes will be measured using an automatic blood analyzer

  12. Change in monocytes

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    Monocytes will be measured using an automatic blood analyzer

  13. Change in creatine kinase concentration

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    Creatine kinase will be measured using an automatic blood analyzer and commercially available kits

  14. Change in reduced glutathione

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    Reduced glutathione will be measured spectrophotometrically in red blood cells

  15. Change in oxidized glutathione

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    Oxidized glutathione will be measured spectrophotometrically in red blood cells

  16. Change in catalase activity

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    Catalase activity will be measured spectrophotometrically in red blood cells

  17. Change in protein carbonyls

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    Protein carbonyls will be measured spectrophotometrically in red blood cells

  18. Change in total antioxidant capacity

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    Total antioxidant capacity will be measured spectrophotometrically in plasma

  19. Change in heart rate

    Time frame: Through dance session completion, an average of 30 minutes

    Heart rate will be continuously monitored using heart rate sensors

  20. Change in oxygen consumption

    Time frame: Through dance session completion, an average of 30 minutes

    Oxygen consumption will be continuously monitored using a portable metabolic system.

  21. Change in physical activity

    Time frame: Through dance session completion, an average of 30 minutes

    The number of steps performed will be assessed using an accelerometer (ActiGraph Gt3x)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in red blood cell count

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    Red blood cell count will be measured using an automatic blood analyzer

  2. Change in hematocrit

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    Hematocrit will be measured using an automatic blood analyzer

  3. Change in hemoglobin

    Time frame: At baseline and at 24 hours and 48 hours after the dance

    Hemoglobin will be measured using an automatic blood analyzer

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Thessaly

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Acute Effects of Greek Traditional Dancing on Health, Performance and Muscle Damage Markers in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women: Implications of Dancing Tempo.

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Feb 15, 2024
Registry last updated
Jun 11, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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