Comparison of Cardiorespiratory Endurance between Kathak Dancers and Non-Dancers

Harshada Sanjay Kedar; Reshma Nipunge

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i05.87514

Comparison of Cardiorespiratory Endurance between Kathak Dancers and Non-Dancers

Author(s)	Ms. Harshada Sanjay Kedar, Dr. Reshma Nipunge
Country	India
Abstract	Background: Physical inactivity among young adult collegiate women contributes to early cardiorespiratory deconditioning, and there is interest in culturally familiar movement practices that may sustain aerobic fitness. Kathak, a North Indian classical dance form built on sustained rhythmic footwork and rapid spins, has received little quantitative physiological study. This investigation compared estimated maximal oxygen uptake and resting hemodynamic indices between trained female Kathak dancers and sedentary non-dancers. Methods: A comparative, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on 30 female participants aged 19 to 26 years, allocated to a Kathak dancer group (n = 15, minimum 3 years of continuous training) and an age-matched sedentary control group (n = 15). Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) was estimated from the 3-minute Queen's College Step Test using the McArdle regression equation for women. Resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were recorded under standardised laboratory conditions. Between-group differences were examined using independent samples t-tests, with Mann-Whitney U tests and Cohen's d reported alongside. Results: The two groups were statistically comparable in age, height, body mass and body mass index (all p > 0.05). Kathak dancers recorded a higher mean estimated VO2 max than non-dancers (41.33 ± 0.83 versus 35.03 ± 0.82 ml/kg/min; mean difference 6.30 ml/kg/min, 95% confidence interval 5.69 to 6.92; t(28) = 20.849, p < 0.0001), an advantage of 18.0%. Dancers also showed a lower resting heart rate (71.00 ± 2.07 versus 82.13 ± 2.03 bpm, p < 0.0001) and a lower post-exercise recovery heart rate (132.53 ± 4.50 versus 166.67 ± 4.45 bpm, p < 0.0001). Systolic blood pressure did not differ significantly (p = 0.460). All 15 non-dancers fell in the Below Average normative band, whereas all 15 dancers reached Average (73.3%) or Above Average (26.7%). Within the dancer group, years of training did not correlate significantly with VO2 max (r = -0.418, p = 0.121). Conclusion: Regular Kathak practice was associated with substantially higher estimated aerobic capacity and a more favourable resting and post-exercise heart rate profile than a sedentary lifestyle in young adult women. Kathak appears to be a culturally acceptable movement modality worth considering within community and collegiate fitness programmes, although the cross-sectional design does not permit causal inference and the step test provides an indirect estimate only.
Keywords	Cardiorespiratory Endurance, Kathak Dance, Maximal Oxygen Uptake, Queen's College Step Test, Resting Heart Rate, Recovery Heart Rate, Physical Inactivity
Field	Medical / Pharmacy
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 5, September-October 2026
Published On	2026-09-13
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i05.87514

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Comparison of Cardiorespiratory Endurance between Kathak Dancers and Non-Dancers

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