Chemistry

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The positive health impacts of dance and dance/movement therapy can be seen all the way down to the molecular level. This narrative-style review illustrates this connection by presenting a collection of clinical and preclinical studies that evaluate the effects of dance activities on hormones and other small-molecule metabolites within the human body. The results of these studies show that dance activities can increase levels of nitric oxide, serotonin, estrogen hormones, and HDL cholesterol, while they can decrease levels of dopamine, serum glucose, serum triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol. Levels of cortisol can either be increased or decreased, depending on the type of dance. Many of these results parallel the biomolecular effects of traditional (non-dance) exercise activities, although some contrasting results can also be seen. The concentrations of these molecules and their distributions throughout the body impact health and a wide variety of disease states. This connection to the molecular level provides a perspective for understanding how it is that dance activities are able to affect larger-scale physiological and psychological responses and lead to the positive health outcomes that are observed in many situations.

Publication Title

American Journal of Dance Therapy

Publication Date

12-2022

Volume

44

Issue

2

First Page

241

Last Page

263

ISSN

0146-3721

DOI

10.1007/s10465-022-09368-z

Keywords

biochemistry, dance, dance/movement therapy, health, metabolites, small-molecules

Cross Post Location

Student Publications

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Included in

Chemistry Commons

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