Partner dancing calorie burn

[Lawndart]

Hi All,

Are there any dancers here that can chime on with an opinion regarding fitbit accuracy for Salsa Dancing (probably similar to a fast paced West Coast Swing)? My fitbit seldom registers any very active minutes for a dance. But I know that I can need a shirt change after just a couple of dances. I seem to work just as hard in a dance as I do in an Zumba class judging from my perspiration levels.

I'm a fairly good leader with strong core engagement shoulders connection so I'm guessing that fitbit has no way to account for that. 

[vinlop]

Hello,

The fitbit is not really designed to collect accurate data for activities like dancing.  Your best bet would be to log it manually and calculate the calories burned using a calculator like the one found here:  http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/activity/calculators/salsa_dancing

Enjoy!

[Deweia]

I just discovered the same issue.  I would "surmise" that since the fitbit is looking at acceleration patterns of some sort that having the flex - means my wrists are relatively stable (i.e on partner's shoulder) while i'm dancing - I did 45 minutes of intensive Rumba and ChaCha footwork - where the foot is not LIFTING or impacting the ground - but was focused upon sliding my toes thru the step work - i had no "intensity" rating to speak of, step count was unrealistically low etc even though i was in a good sweat by the end.  I came to the forum to see if this was a surprise or not and it seems its not a surprise.

[slysam]

Dancing is so variable. I had a doctor tell me that I wasn't getting "any" actual exercise when I was taking 4 dance classes a week, walking everywhere, doing 3 pilates mat classes a week, and practicing my dance class material in my spare time. (The dance classes at that time were Belly Dance, Ballet, West African Dance and Lindy Hop). she told me none of that counted as aerobic exercise since dancing "is the same intensity as walking" (classes and social ocassions tend to be stop and start or more like intervals, but I disagree that all the dancing I was doing was walking intensity). When I tried to follow her advice and added some cardio machine workouts and step aerobics classes--I found it easier aerobic-wise than the African dance and Lindy (the ballet and belly dance were challenging in other ways mainly balance, core strength, muscle control. But the African dance and lindy for an hour were definitely aerobic). So I do think dancing is generally under-rated even though the intensity really depends what the individuals put into it and the music. This experience was actually why I first purchased a heart rate monitor, I needed some objective numbers to compare since I really didn't have time to add traditional cardio on top without giving up other activity (which i now believe was more beneficial all-around for me than the cardio machines). 

As far as Fitbit tracking. I find Fitbit does fine with some types of dance but not others. It does fine with movements involving traveling, larger movements, hops, etc. With aerobic dancing, zumba, and even other dance that involves steps and traveling the calorie burn is usually pretty similar to my heart rate monitor and such that I would lose very active minutes logging. But then with some other syles... If my technique is good, then it doesn't pick up much motion or impact. I found this mainly in styles with really soft, fluid, isolated movements. I took a 90 minute hula dance class where I was stepping the whole time. I would expect at least 4,000 steps and would often only have 700 or so and it would barely be rated above sedentary. Intensitywise it was mild with slow to medium music, so I wouldn't expect any very active minutes. but it certainly wasn't seentary.  When I logged the activity it was all moderately active (lower end of)--which is about right. In Flamenco class, similar and that involved rhythmic stomping/footwork (in high heels--I suspect that is part of the issue). Both those styles involve keeping the knees soft and really containing the impact of any step. That sadly doesn't work so well for Fitbit because impact is part of what it uses (and how fast you move each minute). I would think good posture and core engagement actually cause it to track less. I find it tracks better worn on my hip than on my bra (where I usually wear my Fitbit) but whe dressed up for dancing--I don't want to wear it on the hip. 

There is always an option to log. I find the exercise database usually puts the calorie burn higher than my heart rate monitor would, but it does put it in the correct intensity (per MET charts). For logged activity, I need to log a calorie burn between 5 and 6 calories per minute (over 5 times my resting rate since that is lower than 1 calorie per minute, the exact will vary by your BMR). The activity database is based on MET charts and adjusted by weight. Looking at what is around 6 METS or above--a lot of dance is actually lower and would fit into "moderately active". Really anything a healthy, reasonably fit person (not an athlete) can sustain for hours is moderately active not "very active" (meaning vigorous). Fitbit sometimes credits brisk walking as very active (I need about 4mph speed) but most sources consider walking to be "moderate activity" not "vigorous activity" (jogging is usually where vigorous starts and similar intensity--certainly some dance, not all, fits that though). 

Examples: 

*Slow Ballroom dancing is 3 METS (moderately active, maybe on the lower end)

*Ethnic/Cultural dance like Swing, Salsa, Hula, Belly dance, Flamenco 4.5 METs (moderately active though  I don't feel they are the same in aerobic intensity and they vary by music intensity).

*Ballet, Modern, Jazz  class or rehearsal 5 METS (still moderately active towards the upper end though)

*Ballroom, Fast 5.5 METs (that seems pretty close to the dividing line Fitbit uses)

*Ballet, Jazz performance or vigorous effort 6.8 METS

*Aerobic dance, high impact 7.3 METs (firmly very active)

*Step aerobics 6-8" step, 7.5 METS

Source: https://sites.google.com/site/compendiumofphysicalactivities/Activity-Categories/dancing

Oh, I have a One, not a Flex. I suspect the One might actually do better with dancing in some cases than the Flex because it might feel less impact  (though I wonder if the Flex would have done better with my Flamenco and Hula examples due to all the arm movements). I've seen people post their flex doesn't count all their steps if they push a cart or stroller or hold on to railings on treadmills. It seems quite likely it might miss steps with partner dancing.