Earticle

Argentine tango (tango) is used clinically for therapeutic purposes. However, tango can be applied just as a dance or as a kind of exercise. The analysis of the unique characteristics of tango stance and posture was analysed according to functional anatomy to obtain more effects by tango therapy. The study was conducted at Tango School (Tango Studio in Seoul, Korea), which is well equipped for tango lessons. Two tango masters and two tango experts (an expert in tango medicine and a medical doctor) participated in the precise analysis and description of tango posture and stance. General descriptions of tango posture were translated into a medical description. The results were obtained through the consensus of all participants. The upper body alignment for the tango posture and the standard methods of the tango stance were deduced. Thereafter, the tango posture was finally determined. In this article, an analysis of the unique characteristics of tango posture and stance is conducted, and the scientific rationale for why tango is beneficial for health even when only the tango posture and stance are used is suggested

Argentine tango (tango) has been applied therapeutically in recent decades for neurologic diseases, including Parkinson’s disease. Recently, the basic terminology of tango was defined, and the most simple and basic tango elements were classified for therapeutic purposes. Subsequently, the tango stance and posture were analysed systemically according to their functional anatomical descriptions, and the characteristics of tango gait were thus ascertained. Analysis was performed in a well-equipped facility appropriate for tango lessons and with two qualified tango masters and two tango experts. The following aspects of the tango gait associated with the purpose of movement were characterized: the single-limb support and dual-limb support of body weight; the variability of direction of movement; the gait cycle in normal gait and the gait cycle unit in tango gait; the difference in the way of walking; the asymmetric shape of the Wt-gaining limb and Wt-losing limb; the vertical and side-to-side displacement of centre of mass (CoM); the step width; the active vs passive movements; the absence of hand swing and kick-off; the concurrence of the body axis, Wt axis and the vertical fixation of the body axis; the difference in the principle of step; the single-limb stance duration and dual-limb support duration; the variation in gait velocity; and the movement known as adorno. Tango therapy effects similar to the effects of running, squatting and climbing may be obtained, even at a safe, slow velocity. From a medical viewpoint, tango has therapeutic effects on the muscular strengthening of posture and gait. Consequently, the posture, gait, balancing, mobility, and the rigidity of the body are possibly improved. Tango therapy provides good modality in those patients whose mobility is not favourable, such as those with neurologic diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, and it can promote the health of older people. Additionally, tango possibly strengthens the core muscles and can be applied for urinary inconstancy. More investigation may be needed.

Argentine tango (tango) has been used in therapy in the medical field. Tango has many unique movements, and the basic elements of tango were recently analysed according to the kinematic description of tango terms. The functional anatomical significance and clinical application of tango postures and stances as well as tango gait define level 1-grade tango therapy. Tango ocho is classified as level 2-grade tango therapy and contains the distinctive motion of tango. Additionally, ocho is a way to move the free lower limb across the stance limb (the weight-supporting lower limb). An ocho pivot is unique to tango. The ocho pivot sequence (OPS) is the method for performing ocho step sequences, including ocho adelante, ocho atras and ocho cortado. The OPS consists of the following: 1st dissociation, torsion of the body (torsion), release of the torsion and 2nd dissociation. From the OPS, many artistic and characteristic motions of the tango are developed. In this article, an analysis of the unique characteristics of tango ocho was conducted, including a functional anatomical description for use in the therapeutic application of tango therapy..

Tango (Argentine tango) is applied clinically for therapeutic purposes. Not only does tango, as a kind of dance, involve complex whole body movements synchronized to music but tango movements seem to be complicated and have many unique postures. For the systemic application of tango therapy, the systemic analysis of tango movements and figures are absolutely necessary. For therapeutic purposes, tango therapy should be prescribed based on a common scientific description. To describe tango movements more scientifically and systemically, a uniform systematic standard terminology should be determined and defined. However, the determination and definition of the terminology for tango should be performed for the research of tango movements. In this article, the unique terminology of Argentine tango is listed and defined according to the original meaning in Spanish as the first step toward for the systemic standardization of tango