Clinical Sports Medicine

Abstract

Knowledge about individual strain in competitive ballroom dancing is limited, particular for senior couples. We evaluated the exertion during a simulated final round, covering all five tournament ballroom dances. Heartrate, blood-lactate, and rate of perceived exertion (RPE, Borg-scale) were measured.In this prospective observational study 27 couples (12 couples 20-39ys, 15 couples 40-78ys), performed a final round, sequence Slow Waltz (SW), Tango (TG), Viennese Waltz (VW), Slow Foxtrot (SF), and Quickstep (QS), each duration 1:45min, 30s break, 2min cool-down. Lactate was measured before warm-up, before SW, and after QS. During each break both partners estimated their individual RPE.ECG was registered continuously. Individual HRmax was calculated according to: HRmax=207(age x 0.7). RPE values were transferred to corresponding percent of HRmax, according to Borg.Lactate at rest was about 1.4mmol/l (warm-up 2mmol/l), after five dances 3.52.4mmol/l (young ladies), 5.92.2mmol/l (senior ladies (p=0.016)), 6.53.4 mmol/l (young men), 7.23.0 mmol/l (senior men). HR-development was similar in all dancers with highest values in VW and QS. The younger remained below 100%HRmax, senior ladies reached 105.47.4%, men 107.56.6%HRma x in QS. All couples underestimated their exertion in comparison of transferred RPE-values to measured %HRmax. The younger became more realistic from VW on, the seniors continued to significantly underestimate throughout all dances.Conclusion: Competitive final-round training is strenuous and partly anaerobic exertion, particular for older dancers, who reach more than 100% of predicted HRmax. The older couples more severely underestimate their strain. KEY WORDS: Strain Estimation, Lactate, Heartrate, Perceived Exertion