Abstract / Summary
This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of a 12-week Zumba fitness program combined with halotherapy on body composition, respiratory function, and cardiorespiratory fitness in sedentary older adults, compared with Zumba training alone. Twenty sedentary participants were randomly assigned to either a Zumba + Halotherapy group (Group A, n = 10) or a Zumba-only group (Group B, n = 10). Both groups completed supervised Zumba sessions four times per week for 12 weeks, while Group A additionally received 20 minutes of halotherapy after each session. Body composition (body weight, BMI, body fat percentage), respiratory parameters (maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure [MIP, MEP], forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV₁], peak expiratory flow [PEF], FEV₁/FVC ratio, maximal voluntary ventilation [MVV]), and maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using two-way repeated-measures ANOVA (group × time), with effect sizes reported as partial eta-squared (ηp²). Significant group × time interactions were observed for body weight, BMI, and body fat percentage, indicating greater improvements in Group A. Regarding respiratory and performance outcomes, significant interactions favored the Zumba + Halotherapy group for MIP, FEV₁, PEF, and VO₂max (p < 0.05). No significant group × time interactions were found for FVC, FEV₁/FVC ratio, or MVV (p > 0.05). Effect size analyses demonstrated medium-to-large and large effects, particularly for respiratory muscle strength and aerobic capacity. Incorporating halotherapy into a structured Zumba fitness program yields superior improvements in body composition, respiratory muscle strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness compared with Zumba exercise alone. These findings suggest that halotherapy-enhanced aerobic training represents a promising, non-pharmacological intervention for improving physical and respiratory health in sedentary older adults.