Groove into Ageing: Exploring the Effects of Rhythmic Exercise on the Wellbeing of Older Adults

Kelvin TAN Cheng Kian^1,* and Sonia CHANG²

¹Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)
²University of Chicago

kelvintanck@suss.edu.sg

Tan, K. C. K., & Chang, S. (2024). Groove into ageing: Exploring the effects of rhythmic exercise on the wellbeing of older adults [Poster presentation]. In Higher Education Conference in Singapore (HECS) 2024, 3 December, National University of Singapore. https://blog.nus.edu.sg/hecs/hecs2024-ktan-schang/

SUB-THEME

Opportunities from Engaging Communities

KEYWORDS

Ageing, music, communities, physical activity, exercise

BACKGROUND

As the global population of older adults is increasing, it is increasingly important to address the well-being of this demographic. This poster presents a review of the literature on the efficacy of rhythmic exercise programmes that incorporate elements of physical movement and for enhancing the wellbeing of healthy older adults.

METHODS

This review adopted the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Metanalysis (PRISMA) method. Two English electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science) were systematically searched for this review.

The search was conducted on 13 October 2023 and was limited to articles published after 1 January 2013.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Rhythmic movement programme including dancing, other rhythmic exercise, or physical activities performed to music
Healthy participants free of any frailty, pathology or disease
Participants include elders/seniors/older adults
Programme includes both music and exercise components
Experimental study rather than systematic/realist study

RESULTS

The results revealed that rhythmic exercise programmes demonstrate significant improvements in physical capabilities, cognitive functioning, psychological well-being, social connections, and physiological parameters. Gaps and limitations in the research to date, such as a lack of studies on the social benefits, limited variation in the types of exercise studied, skewed gender ratios, age-related differences, and the impact of music types and preferences, highlight avenues for future investigation. By addressing these gaps, future research can provide a more nuanced understanding of the effectiveness of rhythmic exercise programmes and inform the development of tailored interventions to meet the diverse needs of older adult populations.

DISCUSSION

Rhythmic exercise programmes have demonstrated significant improvements in physical capacities, including balance, motor skills, handgrip strength, lower body strength, and flexibility. Moreover, cognitive capacities, such as perceptual abilities, have been observed to benefit from exercise accompanied by music. The psychological wellbeing of participants was also enhanced, with improvements in emotional states, emotional vulnerability, creativity, and overall psychological resilience. Additionally, there was evidence of an increase in participants’ QOL, highlighting the holistic impact of rhythmic exercise programmes on older adults’ wellbeing. Furthermore, rhythmic exercise programmes were found to foster social connections and increase social interaction among participants, leading to the formation of social bonds and a sense of community. Physiological improvements, including reductions in systolic blood pressure, enhanced pulmonary function, improved cardiopulmonary endurance, and decreased fat ratio, further underscore the comprehensive benefits of these programmes.

NEXT STEP

Based on the systematic review finding, we intend to conduct a research study in FaithActs Active Ageing Centre to promote the benefits of the exercise ball involving older persons in the community.

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