Tips for Dancing in Lung Patients

Dance therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement that aims to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual, for the purpose of improving health and well-being

Benefits of Dance Therapy in Lung Patients

• Physical activity and physical performance are important components of living well in chronic lung conditions

• In Pulmonary rehabilitation, exercise is one of the most effective components in chronic disease management

• Aligning exercise programmes with activities like dance that are valued, enjoyed by the patient population may help promote uptake and encourage sustainable behaviour change in otherwise mundane exercise routine

• Dance helps in improving strength and endurance of major muscles of the body

• It improves pulmonary functions and respiratory efficiency

• It helps strengthen your respiratory muscles ,control breathing Improve exercises tolerance and functional capacity

• Improves social participation and interaction

• It can help improve physical and emotion well being

• Its helps keep arteries clear improving blood flow

• It helps in Weight management which in turn improves breathing effort and overall quality of life

• Dance helps in coordination and balance improving motor function

Dance Mudras & their significance

• Hamsya hasta' represents shape of Swan & is similar to 'Gyan mudra' in yoga. It helps increase memory power, enhances concentration and prevents insomnia

• Trishula hasta depicts 'trishula/ trident' matches with 'Varuna mudra. It balances the water content in body, prevent pain due to shrinkage of muscles or inflammation

• Mayura hasta representing peacock resembles the Prithvi mudra which helps improves the skin and increase weight

• Simhamukha hasta represents a 'lion head similar to the ' Apana Mudra‘ helps regulate diabetes and helps to cure constipation and piles

• Kartarimukha hasta represents scissors and tallies with the 'prana mudra'helping in removing vitamin deficiency and fatigue , improves immunity and power of eyes

Dancing Tips for Lung Patients

• Take Medication, inhalers as prescribed before dance

• Use supplemental Oxygen therapy as advised

• Perform your dance session under guidance of trained specialist & under medical supervision

• Check your vitals like BP,SPO2, PR before ,during & after exercises

• Drink water before, during and after dancing

• Make sure you rest between dance sessions

• Don’t push yourself too far or too fast

• Wear professionally fitted shoes appropriate to your style of dance

• Keep Chair/Stool to prevent falls,caregivers to be present throughout

• Dance in whichever style is comfortable

• Don’t forget to enjoy!

Summary

• Dance is fun,has various benefits which improves overall quality of life both physically & emotionally

• Dance in low to moderate intensity with medical supervision can have great benefits to patients with respiratory conditions

• Dance is said to improve functional capacity, Breathing effort,balance, anxiety and depression, physical activity and health-related quality of life in respiratory patients Dance has psychological gains associated with group solidarity, friendship and fun