Dance therapy as an alternative for cardiac rehabilitation in women population: autonomic and hemodynamic acute responses - a crossover clinical trial protocol

Aim: The objective of this study is to 1. Investigate in women with cardiac risk factors the acute responses of cardiac autonomic modulation and hemodynamic parameters during and after a dance-based cardiac rehabilitation session and II. Compare these responses with a conventional exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation session. Methods: This will be a crossover-clinical trial that will enroll women with at least one cardiac risk factor. The interventions consist of one dance-based (DB) and one traditional exercise-based (EB) session of cardiac rehabilitation, both composed of initial rest, warm-up, moderate-intensity physical exercise, fast recovery evaluation in orthostatic position, and slow recovery evaluation. The main outcomes are 1. Autonomic modulation, evaluated through heart rate variability linear and non-linear methods, and II. Hemodynamic parameters (heart rate, blood pressure, peripheral oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate). All measures will be evaluated in specific moments during the initial rest, physical exercise, and recovery. Conclusion: The results will allow the safe inclusion of dance-based sessions in cardiac rehabilitation programs opening an important field of research to investigate the long-term effects on physical fitness and cardiac risk factors, as well as adherence and motivation to attend cardiac rehabilitation in the women population.