The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 12-weeks dance training on muscle functions related to postural control and walking ability for middle aged sedentary women. Subjects were 45 healthy Japanese sedentary women and were divided into 2 groups; the training group (TG) and the control group (CG). TG had no dance experiences and underwent dance training by ballet teachers two time a week for twelve weeks in this study. CG had asked not to change their daily life style during twelve weeks. Variables were examined with a factorial two-way (factors: group and time) analysis of variance (ANOVA). As results, significant interactions between group and time were found in waist circumstance, muscle thickness of posterior site of lower leg, subcutaneous fat thickness of anterior thigh and abdomen. From the results of this study, 12-weeks ballet training would induce positive changes on anthropometric variables for middle-aged sedentary women, which would induce improvement of postural control and walking ability.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.35/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE