Page 29 - Petelin, Ana. 2021. Ed. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
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s of the sportive dance group and the active control group in the long-term investigations of adult neuroplasticity as an effect of long-term physical activity in old age 27
course of about 5 years. An inactive control group was not included because
numerous studies have already shown that physical inactivity leads to accel-
erated age-correlated decline processes (Erickson et al., 2011). In addition, it is
ethically questionable to encourage people to be physically inactive for a longer
period.
Only cognitively healthy subjects were included in the study. Inclusion
criteria were a minimum score of 26 on the Mini-Mental Status Test (MMST)
of Folstein, Folstein & McHugh (1990). Further inclusion criteria were a min-
imum age of 60 years and MRI suitability (no metallic implants, pacemakers,
tinnitus, tattoos, use of centrally acting drugs, claustrophobia and neurologi-
cal diseases such as stroke or Parkinson’s disease).
In the intervention group, the training of conditional and, in particu-
lar, coordinative abilities were in focus, as well as the memorization and recall
of acyclic, non-automated movement combinations. The fitness training, on
the other hand, emphasized conditional skills such as strength and endurance,
which were characterized by cyclic, automated, and alternating movements
(Rehfeld, 2016). Both exercise interventions had the same conditions regarding
the use of music as well as the implementation of the training in a group to keep
possible psychosocial and emotional effects constant in the two groups. The
training duration, intensity and frequency were almost identical in both train-
ing groups. The structure of the training sessions in a warm-up, main and cool-
down part were also the same in both groups. The sportive dance training in-
cluded different genres, such as line dance, jazz dance, Latin dance, rock’n’roll
and square dance, which changed monthly. The training concept was based on
a balance between learning new acyclic movement patterns and consolidating
them through repetition and recall. Due to the variety of coordination of par-
tial body movements, new multimodal sensory and motor stimuli were creat-
ed continuously. The combinations of mostly unknown step patterns and arm
movements had to be memorized, recalled and reproduced under the pressure
condition of the dynamic-rhythmic structure of time. The memorization of
movement sequences and the recall of these to specific musical structures un-
der time pressure and the permanent relearning of movement sequences under
constant conditional stress underline the high cognitive demand in sportive
dance training. In addition to time pressure, rhythm, positioning and preci-
sion pressure are further pressure conditions of dancing. Spatial orientation,
balance (change of one-legged stances, permanent shifting of the body’s center
of gravity), directional ability (due to changes of place and direction as well as
turns), coupling ability (through the combination of arm and leg movements)
and speed were also trained. In the fitness training, the 60-minute main part
was divided equally (20 minutes each) into endurance training on the bicycle
ergometer, strength training with small equipment and flexibility training. In
this training program, we intentionally kept the coordinative demands of the
exercises as low as possible.
course of about 5 years. An inactive control group was not included because
numerous studies have already shown that physical inactivity leads to accel-
erated age-correlated decline processes (Erickson et al., 2011). In addition, it is
ethically questionable to encourage people to be physically inactive for a longer
period.
Only cognitively healthy subjects were included in the study. Inclusion
criteria were a minimum score of 26 on the Mini-Mental Status Test (MMST)
of Folstein, Folstein & McHugh (1990). Further inclusion criteria were a min-
imum age of 60 years and MRI suitability (no metallic implants, pacemakers,
tinnitus, tattoos, use of centrally acting drugs, claustrophobia and neurologi-
cal diseases such as stroke or Parkinson’s disease).
In the intervention group, the training of conditional and, in particu-
lar, coordinative abilities were in focus, as well as the memorization and recall
of acyclic, non-automated movement combinations. The fitness training, on
the other hand, emphasized conditional skills such as strength and endurance,
which were characterized by cyclic, automated, and alternating movements
(Rehfeld, 2016). Both exercise interventions had the same conditions regarding
the use of music as well as the implementation of the training in a group to keep
possible psychosocial and emotional effects constant in the two groups. The
training duration, intensity and frequency were almost identical in both train-
ing groups. The structure of the training sessions in a warm-up, main and cool-
down part were also the same in both groups. The sportive dance training in-
cluded different genres, such as line dance, jazz dance, Latin dance, rock’n’roll
and square dance, which changed monthly. The training concept was based on
a balance between learning new acyclic movement patterns and consolidating
them through repetition and recall. Due to the variety of coordination of par-
tial body movements, new multimodal sensory and motor stimuli were creat-
ed continuously. The combinations of mostly unknown step patterns and arm
movements had to be memorized, recalled and reproduced under the pressure
condition of the dynamic-rhythmic structure of time. The memorization of
movement sequences and the recall of these to specific musical structures un-
der time pressure and the permanent relearning of movement sequences under
constant conditional stress underline the high cognitive demand in sportive
dance training. In addition to time pressure, rhythm, positioning and preci-
sion pressure are further pressure conditions of dancing. Spatial orientation,
balance (change of one-legged stances, permanent shifting of the body’s center
of gravity), directional ability (due to changes of place and direction as well as
turns), coupling ability (through the combination of arm and leg movements)
and speed were also trained. In the fitness training, the 60-minute main part
was divided equally (20 minutes each) into endurance training on the bicycle
ergometer, strength training with small equipment and flexibility training. In
this training program, we intentionally kept the coordinative demands of the
exercises as low as possible.
