Surface electromyographic analysis of eight traditional Thai folk-dance postures in older adults
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v80.119454Keywords:
Electromyography, fall prevention, functional exercise, older adults, Thai folk danceAbstract
Introduction: Folk dance is gaining attention as a culturally rooted exercise option for older adults. Even so, few studies have measured how specific Thai folk-dance postures activate the muscles. Surface electromyography (sEMG) can help close this gap by quantifying muscle recruitment during movement.
Objective: This study described the whole-body movement of eight Northeastern Thai (Isan) folk-dance postures and measured activation in 13 muscles among community-dwelling older adults.
Methodology: Ten participants aged 60 to 75 years from Ban Non-Kok village (Udon Thani Province, Thailand) performed the eight postures. A wireless bipolar Cometa Wave Plus system recorded sEMG from 13 muscles across the upper limbs, trunk, and lower limbs. Signals were processed with root mean square and normalized to maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC). The output was %EMG/MVC for each posture.
Results: Every posture combined multi-joint and multi-planar motion. The adductor group reached the highest activation, with values close to 50% MVC across all postures. Tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius engaged during balance-demanding moves. Trunk muscles stayed in the 3 to 10% MVC range. Shoulder and arm activity shifted with the gestures performed.
Discussion: Activation patterns matched kinetic-chain and dynamic-balance frameworks. The pattern suggests that Isan dance loads lower-limb stabilizers and prime movers in ways relevant to fall prevention.
Conclusions: Isan folk dance can serve as a culturally meaningful, functional exercise option for older adults. The sEMG profile presented here gives evidence to guide dance-based prescription.
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