Effect of 12 Weeks of Zumba Combined with Halotherapy on Body Composition, Respiratory, and Cardiorespiratory Parameters in Sedentary Older Adults

The global increase in sedentary behavior represents a major public health concern and is closely associated with the development of chronic conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory dysfunction [1]. Insufficient physical activity, compounded by environmental stressors, exacerbates these adverse health outcomes and highlights the need for innovative, accessible, and multidimensional interventions that simultaneously promote physical activity and respiratory health [2–3]. Contemporary exercise and therapeutic programs increasingly emphasize integrated approaches that target multiple physiological systems to address the complex consequences of physical inactivity [4]. Within this framework, Zumba Fitness and halotherapy have gained growing attention due to their independent health benefits; however, their combined application remains insufficiently investigated despite its potential to provide a more comprehensive intervention strategy [5–6].Dance-based exercise has long been recognized as an effective and inclusive form of physical activity, offering substantial physical, psychological, and social benefits across diverse populations [7–8]. Among various dance-based fitness modalities, Zumba Fitness has emerged as a popular and engaging aerobic exercise program that incorporates Latin-inspired rhythmic movements [9]. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that regular participation in Zumba improves cardiorespiratory fitness, enhances body composition, and positively influences psychological well-being. Specifically, Zumba training has been shown to increase maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max), reduce body fat percentage, and improve muscular endurance [10–11]. Importantly, the enjoyable and socially interactive nature of Zumba is associated with high adherence rates, making it particularly suitable for sedentary individuals seeking sustainable lifestyle changes [12–13]. Beyond its physiological benefits, Zumba has been linked to reductions in perceived stress, improvements in mood, and enhanced self-esteem, thereby addressing both physical inactivity and psychosocial barriers to long-term exercise participation [14–17]. The incorporation of music and group-based dynamics further fosters motivation and social cohesion, supporting continued engagement in physical activity [18].Halotherapy, derived from the principles of natural speleotherapy and commonly referred to as salt therapy, is a complementary, non-pharmacological intervention involving exposure to a controlled environment enriched with micronized dry salt aerosols [19]. Historically, its therapeutic potential was first recognized in the nineteenth century following observations that salt mine workers exhibited superior respiratory health [20-22]. Modern halotherapy is delivered in specially designed salt rooms, where aerosolized sodium chloride particles are dispersed using halogenerators to replicate the microclimatic conditions of natural salt caves [22, 23]. Exposure typically lasts between 20 and 60 minutes and is considered safe, well-tolerated, and applicable across different age groups [24, 25].The beneficial effects of halotherapy are attributed to multiple microclimatic factors, including improved air quality, ionization, and the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and mucolytic properties of salt particles [26]. These properties facilitate mucociliary clearance, reduce airway resistance, and alleviate airway inflammation, thereby improving respiratory mechanics [19–25]. Clinical and experimental studies have reported significant improvements in pulmonary function parameters such as forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), and peak expiratory flow (PEF), particularly in individuals with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis [20–23]. In addition to respiratory benefits, halotherapy has been associated with positive psycho-emotional effects, including relaxation and stress reduction, positioning it as both a therapeutic and wellness-oriented intervention [19, 20].In recent years, interest has expanded toward the potential role of halotherapy in physically inactive and sedentary populations. Emerging evidence suggests that halotherapy may support increases in lung capacity, respiratory muscle strength, and exercise endurance, while also contributing to post-exercise recovery by alleviating muscle soreness and joint discomfort [24–27]. These findings indicate that halotherapy may serve as a valuable adjunct to exercise-based interventions, particularly when respiratory efficiency or recovery capacity is compromised. Although Zumba Fitness and halotherapy have demonstrated independent benefits, their combined application represents a novel and underexplored approach to addressing the multifactorial health challenges associated with sedentary lifestyles [28, 29]. It is hypothesized that the respiratory-supportive effects of halotherapy may complement the aerobic demands of Zumba by enhancing ventilatory efficiency, oxygen uptake, and respiratory muscle performance. Such synergistic effects may allow individuals with reduced baseline fitness to tolerate higher exercise intensities with less perceived fatigue, thereby amplifying training adaptations. From a physiological standpoint, Zumba primarily targets cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance, and body composition, whereas halotherapy optimizes respiratory function and airway dynamics. Together, these interventions may provide a holistic strategy that simultaneously addresses systemic and respiratory limitations associated with physical inactivity.This integrative approach may be particularly relevant for adults aged 50–60 years, a transitional period characterized by gradual declines in respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary elasticity, and aerobic capacity, even in the absence of clinically diagnosed respiratory disease. During this stage of life, sedentary behavior may accelerate functional respiratory deterioration and reduce exercise tolerance. Despite its established use in clinical respiratory populations, the role of halotherapy as a supportive modality in physically inactive middle-aged adults remains insufficiently explored. Combining halotherapy with aerobic exercise during this critical period may create a favorable respiratory environment that enhances ventilatory efficiency and facilitates physiological adaptations to exercise, thereby supporting functional capacity and sustained physical activity participation prior to advanced age-related decline.Accordingly, the primary objective of this study was to investigate the combined effects of Zumba Fitness and halotherapy on body composition, respiratory function, and cardiorespiratory fitness in sedentary adults. Specifically, changes in body weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, respiratory parameters (MIP, MEP, FVC, FEV₁, PEF, FEV₁/FVC, MVV), and maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) were evaluated following a structured intervention program. It was hypothesized that the combined Zumba and halotherapy intervention would elicit greater improvements in body composition, respiratory function, and aerobic capacity compared with Zumba exercise alone.