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
Repository Citation
Lopez-Nieves, Ivana and Jakobsche, Charles E., "Biomolecular Effects of Dance and Dance/Movement Therapy: A Review" (2022). Chemistry. 110.
https://commons.clarku.edu/chemistry/110
Cross Post Location
Student Publications
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright Conditions
Lopez-Nieves, I., & Jakobsche, C. E. (2022). Biomolecular effects of dance and dance/movement therapy: A review. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 44(2), 241-263.
