Forget sneakers or cleats and put on those boogie shoes, as new research from Northeastern University finds that dancing can have the same health benefits as running and other forms of exercise.
“You don’t necessarily need to have music, you don’t need to have any training or a teacher, anyone — ostensibly — can dance right where they are and get a health-enhancing dose of physical activity,” says Aston McCullough, assistant professor of physical therapy, human movement and rehabilitation sciences at Northeastern.
Scientists have long known that dancing has many benefits, improving everything from heart health and balance to flexibility and psychological well-being.
But McCullough notes that prior studies have not measured the “dose” of free-form dance given — leading to questions about how intensely do people move when dancing however they wish, and is free-form dance intense enough to reach a moderate or vigorous intensity.
