Effects of Adapted Argentine Tango Training Frequency on Dual-Task Walking

Summary

This randomized controlled trial will examine whether the frequency of adapted Argentine tango training affects walking and cognitive function in adults aged 55 to 60 years when the total weekly intervention time is kept the same.

A total of 270 participants will be randomly assigned in equal numbers to one of three groups. The distributed tango group will attend five 36-minute sessions per week. The concentrated tango group will attend two 90-minute sessions per week. The active control group will attend two 90-minute sessions per week consisting of health education and low-intensity stretching. All interventions will continue for 8 weeks.

The adapted Argentine tango program will include low-impact multidirectional stepping, weight shifting, movement initiation and stopping, rhythmic cueing, direction changes, alternating leader-follower roles, and progressive movement-sequence learning. Jumping, rapid continuous turning, large kicks, and other high-risk movements will not be included.

Assessments will be conducted at baseline, Week 4, Week 8, and 2 weeks after the intervention ends. The main outcome will be the change in dual-task walking cost at week 8. Other assessments will examine balance, walking performance, executive function, general cognitive function, lower-limb function, exercise adherence, training intensity, falls, and adverse events.

The study aims to determine whether shorter, more frequent sessions or longer, less frequent sessions provide greater motor-cognitive benefits when the total weekly intervention time is equal.

Conditions

• Motor-Cognitive Function
• Dual-Task Walking
• Balance

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Distributed Adapted Argentine Tango Training

Participants will complete five 36-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks. Training will include low-impact multidirectional stepping, weight shifting, forward and backward stepping, lateral stepping, movement initiation and stopping, rhythm changes, controlled 90-degree turns, alternating leader-follower roles, and progressive motor-sequence learning. The target intensity will be approximately 50% to 65% of heart rate reserve, with a rating of perceived exertion of 11 to 13. Jumping, rapid continuous turning, large kicks, deep lunges, boleos, ganchos, and eyes-closed movements will be excluded.

BEHAVIORAL

Concentrated Adapted Argentine Tango Training

Participants will complete two 90-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks. The adapted tango content, progression, weekly intervention time, and target exercise intensity will be matched to the distributed tango group. Each session will include warm-up, 60 minutes of core adapted tango training, cool-down, and appropriate rest and water breaks. High-risk movements will be excluded.

BEHAVIORAL

Health Education and Low-Intensity Stretching

Participants will complete two 90-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks. The program will include general health education, low-intensity joint mobility exercises, stretching, breathing exercises, and relaxation. It will not include systematic dance training, progressive tango sequences, multidirectional stepping practice, or cognitively demanding movement-switching tasks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Xi'an Medical University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

55 Years

Max Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-08-29

Primary Completion

2026-10-24

Completion

2026-11-07