Effect of a tango program on basic psychological needs for exercise and dynamic balance in adults between 50 and 74 years old

Introduction: This quasi-experimental study measured the effect of a 14-week tango program, featuring two different styles (classic and milonguero), on the basic psychological needs related to exercise (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and on dynamic balance in adults over 50 years of age. Objective: To evaluate the impact of a tango program on basic psychological needs for exercise and dynamic balance in adults aged between 50 and 74. Methodology: Forty-eight participants (61.7±6 years) completed the Basic Psychological Needs in Exercise Scale (BPNES) and a dynamic balance test (8-ft-up-and-go) from the Senior Fitness Test. Three groups were formed under informed consent: a Classic Tango group (n=14, 61.67±6.08 years), a Milonguero Tango group (n=20, 60.62±5.08 years), and a Control group (n=14, 61.38±6.40 years). Results: Both tango groups showed significant improvements in the psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, while the control group maintained significantly lower and stable scores. Dynamic balance improved in all participants. Conclusions: The results confirm the mediating role of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in the motivation to adhere to the tango program. It is recommended to increase the number of sessions to determine whether additional benefits in dynamic balance can be observed.