The examination of the effects of a Greek traditional dance program on physical fitness parameters of high school students

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of a program with Greek Traditional Dance (GTD) as an alternative form of physical activity (PA) in the context of the school physical education (PE) course, on aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility, of high school students. In the research participated voluntarily 36 high school students, aged 15-17 years, who were randomly divided into a GTD group (n=18) and a control group (n=18). Cooper's 12-minute walk test was used to assess aerobic capacity. For the evaluation of the other variables of physical fitness (PF), field tests from Eurofit Fitness Tests were used. All students performed the tests before and after the end of GTD program and regular PE school program. The statistical package SPSS/PC version 23.0 for windows was used for statistical analysis. The data analysis showed that after the GTD program aerobic capacity increased significantly from 1253.06 +/- 194.09 to 1426.00 +/- 201.48 meters (t=-6.156; p<0.001), muscular strength from 163.06 +/- 38.29 to 170.11 +/- 36.34 cm (t=-2.928; p<0.01), muscular endurance from 19.06 +/- 5.94 to 22.39 +/- 6.34 repetitions (t=-3.424; p<0.001), while flexibility remained unaltered. After the regular PE course program, the measured PF variables remained stable, except for muscular endurance which increased significantly from 17.72 +/- 4.01 to 18.67 +/- 3.90 repetitions (t=-2.799; p<0.01). The results of the present study demonstrate very positive effects of the GTD program, as an alternative form of PA during PE course at school, on PF parameters. As for the regular PE school program, although it may have some positive effects, it does not inspire student participation. Therefore, GTDs are an alternative form of PA that can inspire the participation of high school students, but also can form the basis of a lifelong exercise, with many positive effects on physical well-being parameters for students nowadays and adult citizens in the future.