Objectives:
The aging population is growing worldwide, and according to a 2015 World Health Organization report, the number of seniors over the age of 65 will be as high as 1.6 billion in 2050, representing 16.7% of the world’s population. Moreover, the number of falls among people aged ≥ 65 is expected to increase by 47% by 2050, since coordination and balance, both static and dynamic, have a huge impact on the incidence of falls in seniors. This study was designed to determine whether there are differences in the effectiveness of Zumba Gold (ZG) dance training and conventional balance exercises (BE) in the context of static and dynamic balance and whether ZG may reduce the risk of falls in older adults.

Material and methods:
The study involved 38 subjects aged 61 to 83, 19 in both groups, who participated in ten 45-minute classes three times a week. Pre- and post-training balance tests were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the exercise sessions.

Results:
The results showed significant improvements in a battery of clinical tests, after training sessions, such as the Timed Up and Go test (p ≤ 0.01), Tandem Stance Test (p ≤ 0.03), Tandem Walk Test (p ≤ 0.02), Tandem Pivot Test (p ≤ 0.02), Four Square Step Test (p ≤ 0.001), and Functional Reach Test (p ≤ 0.004). Zumba Gold, like BE, positively affects static and dynamic balance and is an effective physical activity in preventing falls.

Conclusions:
The findings suggest that just 10 ZG or BE sessions are sufficient to observe beneficial improvements in functional fitness and balance, which may result in a reduction in fall risk. Moreover, ZG training, like other exercise classes with dynamic music, can also be called active leisure.