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.

全球久坐行为的增多是一项重大公共卫生关切，且与肥胖、心血管疾病、呼吸功能障碍等慢性疾病的发生密切相关[1]。运动量不足叠加环境应激因素，会加剧这些不良健康结局，凸显了开发创新、可及且多维度干预手段的必要性——这类手段需同时促进身体活动与呼吸健康[2-3]。当代运动与治疗项目日益强调整合式方案，靶向多个生理系统以应对身体活动不足带来的复杂后果[4]。在此框架下，尊巴健身（Zumba Fitness）与盐疗（halotherapy）凭借各自独立的健康获益受到越来越多的关注；尽管二者联合应用具备提供更全面干预策略的潜力，但相关研究仍显不足[5-6]。

以舞蹈为基础的运动长期以来被视为一种有效且包容性强的身体活动形式，可为不同人群带来显著的生理、心理与社会层面获益[7-8]。在各类舞蹈健身模式中，尊巴健身作为一款广受欢迎且富有吸引力的有氧运动项目脱颖而出，其融合了拉丁风格的节律性动作[9]。越来越多的研究证据表明，规律参与尊巴健身可改善心肺耐力、优化身体成分，并对心理健康产生积极影响。具体而言，尊巴训练已被证实可提升最大摄氧量（VO₂max）、降低体脂百分比并增强肌肉耐力[10-11]。尤为重要的是，尊巴健身兼具趣味性与社交互动性，其高依从性使其尤其适合希望实现可持续生活方式改变的久坐人群[12-13]。除生理获益外，尊巴健身还与感知压力降低、情绪改善及自尊提升相关，从而同时解决身体活动不足与长期运动参与的心理社会障碍问题[14-17]。音乐融入与团体互动机制进一步强化了运动动机与社会凝聚力，助力持续参与身体活动[18]。

盐疗源自天然洞穴疗法（speleotherapy）的原理，通常也被称为盐呼吸疗法，是一种补充性非药物干预手段，指暴露于富含微粉化干燥盐气溶胶的受控环境中[19]。19世纪，研究者观察到盐矿工人的呼吸健康状况更优，自此首次认识到其治疗潜力[20-22]。现代盐疗在专门设计的盐疗室中开展，通过盐雾发生器将雾化氯化钠颗粒分散至空气中，以模拟天然盐洞的微气候条件[22,23]。单次暴露时长通常为20至60分钟，该疗法安全性良好、耐受性佳，适用于不同年龄人群[24,25]。

盐疗的有益效应归因于多种微气候因素，包括空气质量改善、电离作用，以及盐颗粒的抗菌、抗炎与黏液溶解特性[26]。这些特性可促进黏液纤毛清除、降低气道阻力并缓解气道炎症，从而改善呼吸力学[19-25]。临床与实验研究已报道，肺功能参数可获得显著改善，例如一秒用力呼气容积（FEV₁）、用力肺活量（FVC）与峰值呼气流速（PEF），尤其在哮喘、慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）与囊性纤维化患者中[20-23]。除呼吸获益外，盐疗还与积极的心理情绪效应相关，包括放松与压力缓解，使其兼具治疗与健康促进属性[19,20]。

近年来，研究兴趣拓展至盐疗在身体活动不足与久坐人群中的潜在作用。新兴证据表明，盐疗可助力提升肺活量、呼吸肌力量与运动耐力，同时还可通过缓解肌肉酸痛与关节不适促进运动后恢复[24-27]。这些发现提示，盐疗可作为运动干预的有价值辅助手段，尤其当呼吸效率或恢复能力受损时。尽管尊巴健身与盐疗已被证实具备独立获益，但二者的联合应用仍是应对久坐相关多因素健康挑战的新颖且未被充分探索的策略[28,29]。本研究假设，盐疗的呼吸支持效应可通过提升通气效率、摄氧量与呼吸肌性能，与尊巴健身的有氧需求形成互补。此类协同效应可使基线体能较低的个体在感知疲劳更低的情况下耐受更高的运动强度，从而放大训练适应效果。从生理学角度而言，尊巴健身主要靶向心血管耐力、肌肉耐力与身体成分，而盐疗则优化呼吸功能与气道动力学。二者联合可提供一套整体化策略，同时解决身体活动不足相关的全身与呼吸功能限制。

这种整合式干预方案对50至60岁的成年人群尤为适用——这一年龄过渡阶段即使未被诊断为临床呼吸系统疾病，也会出现呼吸肌力量、肺弹性与有氧能力的渐进性下降。在此人生阶段，久坐行为可能加速功能性呼吸恶化并降低运动耐量。尽管盐疗在临床呼吸系统人群中的应用已得到证实，但它作为辅助手段在身体活动不足的中年成年人中的作用仍未被充分探索。在此关键时期将盐疗与有氧运动相结合，可创造有利的呼吸环境，提升通气效率并促进运动相关的生理适应，从而在年龄相关的功能衰退出现之前，支持机体功能能力与持续身体活动参与。

据此，本研究的主要目的是探究尊巴健身与盐疗联合干预对久坐成年人群体成分、呼吸功能与心肺耐力的影响。具体而言，本研究评估了结构化干预方案实施后，体重、体重指数、体脂百分比、呼吸参数（最大吸气压力MIP、最大呼气压力MEP、FVC、FEV₁、PEF、FEV₁/FVC、最大自主通气量MVV）与最大摄氧量（VO₂max）的变化。本研究假设，与单独进行尊巴健身训练相比，尊巴健身联合盐疗干预可在身体成分、呼吸功能与有氧能力方面带来更显著的改善。