{"id":9510,"date":"2012-09-06T16:14:10","date_gmt":"2012-09-07T02:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=9510"},"modified":"2021-12-08T10:57:18","modified_gmt":"2021-12-08T20:57:18","slug":"hula-found-to-be-promising-cardiac-rehabilitation-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2012\/09\/06\/hula-found-to-be-promising-cardiac-rehabilitation-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Hula found to be promising cardiac rehabilitation therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa John A. Burns School of Medicine researcher’s discover that hula can be an effective and engaging cardiac rehabilitation therapy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For the first time ever, researchers have determined the metabolic equivalent for hula in a study that shows the Native Hawaiian dance form can be an effective and engaging cardiac rehabilitation therapy. Researchers from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> John A. Burns School of Medicine<\/a> and The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu presented preliminary findings to the participants of the study on August 28, 2012.<\/p>\n

The Hula Empowering Lifestyle Adaptations (HELA<\/abbr>) study<\/a> followed 60 participants, all of whom had suffered a heart attack, heart failure or undergone heart surgery within 2 to 12 weeks before the five-year research project began.<\/p>\n

“The goal was to establish the measured metabolic rate of hula practice, and learn whether physicians might be able to prescribe hula as a cardiac rehabilitation therapy,” said Mele Look<\/strong>, director of community engagement for JABSOM’s Department of Native Hawaiian Health. “What we found was that hula can match the cardiac workout of a pick-up basketball game.”<\/p>\n

While hula is known worldwide and deeply connected to Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>’s identity, Look noted, the HELA<\/abbr> study is the first time that hula has been scientifically evaluated as part of a health program.<\/p>\n

Heart disease is of particular concern for Native Hawaiians, whose heart disease death rates are almost twice that of other ethnic groups. The researchers believe social support plays an important role in recovery from hospitalization for a major cardiac event, improving long-term survival and lowering the risk or re-hospitalization.<\/p>\n

HELA<\/abbr> researchers include Todd Seto<\/strong> of The Queen’s Medical Center and JABSOM’s Center for Cardiovascular Research, Keaweʻaimoku<\/span> Kaholokula<\/strong> of JABSOM’s Department of Native Hawaiian Health, Mele Look<\/strong> of JABSOM’s Department of Native Hawaiian Health, Mapuana de Silva of Hālau Mōhala ʻIlima<\/span>, Kahealani Rivera of The Queen’s Medical Center, Gregory Maskiranic<\/strong> of JABSOM’s Department of Native Hawaiian Health and Kalehua Felice Tolentino of The Queen’s Medical Center.<\/p>\n

HELA<\/abbr> study findings<\/h2>\n