Older Adults Can Reduce Knee And Hip Pain With Low-Impact Dance Therapy

Older adults who can learn to walk faster not only reduce hip and knee pain, they can reduce their chances of falling or otherwise becoming incapacitated, according to a U.S. study. “Gait speed as the sixth vital sign that can help us predict adverse outcomes for older adults,” the researchers said. A good way to speed up walking pace is to spend time dancing, the study found. Study participants who danced didn’t walk dramatically faster, but their pace picked up enough to reduce pain (and reduce consumption of pain medicine). The dance therapy used in the study, known as Healthy-Steps, is a low impact aerobic activity that was adapted for participants with arthritis and pain in their lower extremities.