Ballroom Dancing as Physical Therapy!

Did you or someone you know recently endure an injury that required therapy or some type of physical rehabilitation? Oftentimes a doctor will refer you out to a normal Physical Therapist, and that’s wonderful, and also very helpful. However, there are many different ways to rehabilitate yourself, while also strengthening your body, getting in shape and gaining confidence.

I bet you didn’t know that Ballroom dancing is so effective for getting those muscles back in working order. If you had surgery, specifically heart, knee, or one that requires movement for rehabilitation, you can use Ballroom dancing as an alternative to other forms of exercise to strengthen your muscles.

Do you have hunched shoulders and an aching upper back due to bad posture? You can also remedy this with Ballroom dancing. Ballroom dancing can help you learn to lengthen and align your spine through the constant use of better posture. As you may know, your frame in Ballroom dancing is very precise, and is kept as such throughout the dance. Being in this position actually helps put all of your organs in alignment, as well as the spine.

Partner dancing can be very helpful with both the stretching and strengthening of your muscles while maintaining a very low-impact on your joints as well. At the Flagstaff Medical Center, they use monthly Ballroom dance classes as part of their Cardiac Rehabilitation program. Heart patients get a great support network along with some aerobic activity to help improve their balance, stamina, and mental acuity. Another great reason why Ballroom dancing is so effective for cardiac rehabilitation comes from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. According to them, dancing can lower your risk of coronary heart disease and does wonders to decrease high blood pressure, which causes even more health problems.

So if you are looking for a fun way to get your body back on track after rehabilitation, you should definitely try Ballroom dancing! It is not as mundane as things like walking, jogging and some other exercises might be, so you know that you will definitely enjoy yourself. After all, don’t we all deserve a little something to enjoy in life?

Oftentimes you will find that when you ask people what they like so much about Ballroom dancing, they will reply that it lifts their spirits. However, don’t just take our word for it. In one particular case in San Diego with student Beverly Weurding – who was previously diagnosed with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) and was told that she would not be able to walk, climb, dance, or play sports- she experienced extreme muscle distortion and pain, which would lead her to need the use of a wheelchair. After years of being unhappy, she thought she might be able to “experience the joy of dancing while in a wheelchair.” After a lot of searching on her part to find a dance instructor who was willing to work with her, she learned some of the amazing health benefits that came with Ballroom dancing. Even for her, she experienced what many of you can, this includes better balance, muscle strength, flexibility, range of motion, increased coordination, and positive emotional and psychological effects.

Don’t put this on the back burner any further. If you or someone you know is currently going through some type of physical therapy, then you owe it to yourself to explore all the options you have. Normal physical therapy can cost an “arm and a leg”, and just doing that isn’t going to benefit you very much beyond your scheduled appointments. However, dancing can give benefits that’s last and build throughout your life! There’s almost no way to begin taking dance lessons without finding out just how many amazing things come along with! So don’t waste any more time, and get on down here to Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ to start your healing journey!