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April 15, 2024/Daily Health Stories

Dancing your Way to Good Health

If you're not a fan of working out at the gym, you may want to consider some other fun alternatives, like dancing. A physical therapist highlights the health benefits of moving and grooving to some music.

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CLEVELAND - We all know that exercise is good for you, but what if you’re not a fan of going to the gym or joining a fitness class?

Well, there are plenty of other fun alternatives, like dancing.

“One of the health benefits is cardiovascular. So, it's an aerobic exercise which helps our body use oxygen, which helps increase our heart rate,” said Kellie Grabfelder, DPT, physical therapist for Cleveland Clinic. “It gets our blood pumping through our body and oxygen to our muscles. And this can even aid in weight loss for people.”

Grabfelder said dancing can also help improve your strength, mobility, flexibility and balance.

For example, dance may require a person to stand on one leg and reach.

Another benefit to dance is that you don’t actually feel like you’re working out the way you would at the gym, and that can be enticing for many.

Beyond the physical, dancing can be a way to socialize with others and make you feel better, too.

“There's also benefits for our mental health. Dancing helps to release endorphins, which are our feel -good chemicals, and they make us feel good after we exercise,” said Grabfelder. “Again, it gets our heart pumping and gets us sweating, which makes us feel good afterwards. There are also benefits to our coordination and even just our memory planning.”

Grabfelder said all types of dance can be beneficial for your health.

However, it’s important to be careful if you have trouble with your balance or are at risk for falling.

She recommends having a chair nearby for support.

About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 81,000 employees worldwide are more than 5,743 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,160 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,690-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 276 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2023, there were 13.7 million outpatient encounters, 323,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 301,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 132 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

Editor’s Note: Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request.

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