THAI CLASSICAL DANCE AS A CULTURALLY BASED EXERCISE FOR HEALTHY AGING IN THAI SOCIETY
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Abstract
The transition to an aging society in Thailand has heightened the importance of health promotion and the prevention of physical and cognitive decline among older adults. Thai classical dance, a form of cultural heritage characterized by integrated physical movement, can be adapted as an appropriate form of exercise for older adults. This narrative review aims to synthesize the current body of knowledge and critically examine the concepts, roles, and empirical evidence supporting Thai classical dance as a culturally relevant intervention for promoting healthy aging. Relevant literature was systematically identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Thai-Journal Online system supplemented by additional peer-reviewed publications and related documents in both Thai and English between 1998–2025. The discussion encompasses multiple domains, including physical fitness, cardiovascular function, respiratory function, cognitive function, and psychological well-being, as well as practical approaches for implementation within the Thai social context. The review found that Thai classical dance is a culturally based physical activity integrating whole-body movement, rhythmic music, motor learning, and social interaction. Evidence from previous studies suggest that Thai classical dance training at 6 weeks can significantly improve physical fitness, reduce fall risk from 35% to 8%. Specifically, Thai classical dance training at 12 weeks improved Berg Balance Scale scores (52 to 55) and reduced Timed Up and Go time (8.18 to 6.26 s). In addition, Thai classical dance has been shown to enhance cognitive function and improve quality of life among older adults. Therefore, promoting Thai classical dance represents a promising and sustainable approach for enhancing the overall well-being of the aging population in Thailand. Nevertheless, further well-designed randomized controlled trials with long-term follow-up are warranted to confirm its effectiveness and to elucidate the underlying physiological mechanisms.
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